Norse Peak 2 November 2025 (17235).jpg
Wilderness trespasser · CC BY-SA 4.0

Henskin Lake–Pickhandle Gap Loop, 5 saddles is a 6.8-mile loop near Snoquera, WA. The route passes Pickhandle Gap, Bear Gap and Henskin Lake. It climbs 2,065 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 84/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi4,387 – 6,359 ft · steepest grade: 27%7.1 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Gold Hill Road East 46.93608, -121.47416
Nearest town Snoquera, WA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Henskin Lake–Pickhandle Gap Loop, 5 saddles

6.8 mi · ▲ 2,065 ft · 3 hr 18 min

Elevation 4,385–6,357 ft

Loop

Trailhead: Gold Hill Road East · 46.93608, -121.47416

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 68°F / low 41° · precip 1% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 5:49 AM · sunset 8:37 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Gold Hill Road East, heading E.
  2. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Bullion Basin Trail, heading NE.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right onto Chutes and Ladders, heading NE.
  4. 0.2 miBear right onto Bullion Basin Trail, heading NE.
  5. 1.5 miContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
  6. 0.9 miPass Pickhandle Gap.
  7. 1 miPass Bear Gap.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Silver Creek Trail, heading S.
  9. 50 ftTurn right onto Crystal Mountain Trail, heading S.
  10. 0.7 miPass Henskin Lake.
  11. 100 ftTurn right onto Henskin Lake Trail, heading SW.
  12. 0.3 miTurn left, heading NE.
  13. 0.8 miBear left, heading SW.
  14. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  15. 0.8 miTurn right, heading N.
  16. 450 ftTurn left onto Gold Hill Road East, heading NE.
  17. 50 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

85% dirt15% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 68°F41°
Precip1%Wind4 mphUV7Humidity53%
Hourly temperature
70°40°
Sunrise 5:49 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:37 PM
Tue 74°51°
Wed 82°58°
Thu 85°56°
Fri 76°51°
Sat 73°47°
Sun 74°47°

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Gold Hill Road East Trailhead