Norse Peak Wilderness

Pickhandle Gap & Martinson Gap via Pacific Crest Trail

15.5 mi · ▲ 3,796 ft · 7 hr 4 min

Pickhandle Gap & Martinson Gap via Pacific Crest Trail is a 15.5-mile out-and-back in Norse Peak Wilderness near Cougar Valley, WA. The route passes Pickhandle Gap before reaching Martinson Gap at the turnaround, 7.8 miles in. It climbs 3,796 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 82/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi4,856 – 6,388 ft · steepest grade: 22%15.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bear Gap Trail #967 46.91160, -121.46514
Nearest town Cougar Valley, WA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Pickhandle Gap & Martinson Gap via Pacific Crest Trail

15.5 mi · ▲ 3,796 ft · 7 hr 4 min

Elevation 4,856–6,389 ft

Out & Back · Norse Peak Wilderness

Trailhead: Bear Gap Trail #967 · 46.91160, -121.46514

Weather Jul 18: Fog, high 63°F / low 45° · precip 2% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 5:30 AM · sunset 8:55 PM

  1. Start on Bear Gap Trail #967, heading NE.
  2. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Fog City Trail #967A, heading NE.
  3. 0.8 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading E.
  4. 50 ftPass Pickhandle Gap.
  5. 0.3 miTurn left onto Basin Lake Trail, heading N.
  6. 2.4 miTurn left, heading W.
  7. 0.3 miSharp right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading N.
  8. 3.5 miPass Martinson Gap.
  9. 50 ftReach Pickhandle Gap, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 3.5 miSharp left onto Basin Lake Trail, heading S.
  11. 0.3 miTurn left, heading SE.
  12. 2.4 miTurn right onto Pacific Crest Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.3 miTurn left onto Fog City Trail #967A, heading W.
  14. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Bear Gap Trail #967, heading SW.
  15. 0.4 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

100% dirt

Weather

FogTemperature 63°F45°
Feels like41°Precip2%Wind9 mphUV8Humidity79%
Hourly temperature
65°45°
Sunrise 5:30 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:55 PM
Sun 71°50°
Mon 79°53°
Tue 83°59°
Wed 82°59°
Thu 80°54°
Fri 69°43°

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