Norse Peak–Pickhandle Gap Loop, 7 sights is a 10.5-mile loop in Norse Peak Wilderness near Cougar Valley, WA. The route passes Scout Pass, Norse Peak and Pickhandle Gap. It climbs 3,042 ft, with sections as steep as 30% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 88/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi4,705 – 6,847 ft · steepest grade: 30%10.7 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Bullion Basin Trail 46.93880, -121.46808
Nearest town Cougar Valley, WA
Directions
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Norse Peak–Pickhandle Gap Loop, 7 sights
10.5 mi · ▲ 3,042 ft · 5 hr 1 min
Elevation 4,705–6,846 ft
Loop · 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 miTurn left, heading N.
- 50 ftPass Scout Pass.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Norse Peak View Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftReach Norse Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Norse Peak Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miSharp left onto Basin Lake Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 2.4 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miPass Pickhandle Gap.
- 1 miSharp right onto Silver Creek Trail, heading S.
- 2 miContinue straight onto Bullion Basin Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miThe 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
98% dirt2% unspecified
Weather
ClearTemperature 61°F39°
Precip1%Wind8 mphUV7Humidity70%
Hourly temperature
65°35°
Sunrise 5:49 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:37 PM
Tue
71°53°
Wed
84°56°
Thu
84°54°
Fri
74°49°
Sat
72°46°
Sun
72°45°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~80 min). Leave by 6:56 PM for the 8:37 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:29 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
- Goat Lake–Scout Pass, 4 sights 10.6 mi · ▲ 3,633 ft
- Lower Crystal Lake–Upper Crystal Lake, 5 sights 11.2 mi · ▲ 2,714 ft
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