Sheepherder Lake & Cougar Valley Trail
12.4 mi · ▲ 2,497 ft · 5 hr 23 min
Sheepherder Lake & Cougar Valley Trail is a 12.4-mile out-and-back in Norse Peak Wilderness near Cougar Valley, WA. The route reaches Sheepherder Lake at the turnaround, 6.2 miles in. It climbs 2,497 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade. It scores 93/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Sheepherder Lake & Cougar Valley Trail
12.4 mi · ▲ 2,497 ft · 5 hr 23 min
Elevation 4,439–5,977 ft
Out & Back · Norse Peak Wilderness
Trailhead: Raven Roost Trailhead · 47.02424, -121.33480
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 61°F / low 35° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 5:48 AM · sunset 8:37 PM
- Start on Raven Roost Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Cougar Valley Trail, heading SW.
- 3 miSharp left onto Crow Lake Way Trail, heading SW.
- 1.5 miSharp left onto Sheepherder Lake Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miReach Sheepherder Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Crow Lake Way Trail, heading S.
- 1.5 miSharp right onto Cougar Valley Trail, heading W.
- 3 miTurn right onto Raven Roost Trail, heading NW.
- 1.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.3 mi in (~8 min). Leave by 8:09 PM for the 8:37 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:06 PM — 6 min before dark.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Raven Roost Trailhead Trailhead
- Raven Roost Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 663 ft
- Hidden Lake–Raven Roost Trail, 3 sights 13.4 mi · ▲ 4,138 ft
- Martinson Gap & Raven Roost Trail via Pacific Crest Trail 13.4 mi · ▲ 2,713 ft
- Arch Rock Trail & Raven Roost Trail via Pacific Crest Trail 14.6 mi · ▲ 4,316 ft
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