Martinson Gap & Scout Pass via Pacific Crest Trail
12.6 mi · ▲ 2,761 ft · 5 hr 35 min
Martinson Gap & Scout Pass via Pacific Crest Trail is a 12.6-mile out-and-back in Norse Peak Wilderness near Cougar Valley, WA. The route passes Scout Pass before reaching Martinson Gap at the turnaround, 6.3 miles in. It climbs 2,761 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 93/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Martinson Gap & Scout Pass via Pacific Crest Trail
12.6 mi · ▲ 2,761 ft · 5 hr 35 min
Elevation 4,837–6,531 ft
Out & Back · Norse Peak Wilderness
Trailhead: Bullion Basin Trail · 46.93880, -121.46808
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 61°F / low 39° · precip 1% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 5:49 AM · sunset 8:37 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Chutes and Ladders, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Bullion Basin Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 1.4 miPass Scout Pass.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Basin Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading NE.
- 3.5 miReach Martinson Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 3.5 miBear right onto Basin Lake Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 1.7 miBear right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Bullion Basin Trail, heading S.
- 0.7 miBear left onto Chutes and Ladders, heading N.
- 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~79 min). Leave by 6:58 PM for the 8:37 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:28 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Bullion Basin Trail Trailhead
- Bullion Basin Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 1,428 ft
- Kelley's Gap Road 5 mi · ▲ 1,863 ft
- Bear Gap–Bear Gap Trail #967, 3 sights 6.3 mi · ▲ 2,306 ft
- Northway Peak–Elizabeth Lake, 7 sights 9.5 mi · ▲ 2,505 ft
- Norse Peak–Pickhandle Gap Loop, 7 sights 10.5 mi · ▲ 3,042 ft
- Goat Lake–Scout Pass, 4 sights 10.6 mi · ▲ 3,633 ft
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