Cloudy Pass

(mm 2555.2) This gorgeous 11 mile trail is used in many ways: I can be a 30 mile loop through Stehekin, or an alternate route bypassing the 18.6 miles of PCT between High Bridge and Suiattle pass, or an entry/exit rout to the PCT. All three purposes require using the ferry and busses.

Some hikers might choose to make this a side trip from the PCT, going the 5.2 miles, and 984 ft (one way) to Upper Lyman Lake, then back to the PCT. It's well worth it in my opinion.

Cloudy Pass is an almost treeless meadow offering stunning views of Plummer and Sitting Bull Mountains to the west, then to the east, a long ridgeline of glacier covered peaks over 8,000 ft high overlooking the milky blue Lyman lakes.

##!2026 Closed due to winter mudslides In December of 2025 Railroad Creek Road was damaged by more than 11 mudslides and is closed pending repairs. Currently the government funding for the repairs is being worked out.

Note that this trail it typically a bit overgrown below Hart Lake and that will only get worse in 2026 with the closure. Bugs in early summer are also typical.

From the PCT to Cloudy Pass

The trail forks where it connects to the PCT. One connection is 0.2 miles south of Suiattle Pass at 5,920 ft. This route is a nearly level traverse of 0.5 miles, but the traverse is on a very steep rocky slope that some people do not enjoy. The other connection to the PCT is 0.7 miles north of Suiattle Pass at 5,685 ft. This route has some tight switchbacks over 0.8 miles but is a more sure-footed route. The two connections merge into one trail at 5,920 ft. Then 16 more switchbacks take you 514 feet directly uphill to Cloudy Pass at 6,434.

Over the 1.6 miles from the PCT to Cloudy Pass the trees thin out to the tree line, offering 360 bucket-list views of the 8,000 ft high peaks surrounding you: Cloudy Peak to the north, Plummer Mtn to the west, Fortress Mtn and Chiwawa Mtn to the south, Greenwood Mn to the east. And below you to the SE you will Lyman Chain lakes.

As you descend toward Lyman Lake, you will not see this through the trees, but 2.3 miles in, at 6,000 ft, you will pass by a very important weather station 70 yards to the west.

Lyman Chain Lakes

Taking extra time to explore Lyman Lakes is well worth it. It's an extra 2.8 miles and 506 ft one way to Upper Lyman Lake. The route there is not intuitive and I recommend using GPS guidance. The trail around the west side of the lake turns into rock climbing Lyman Falls, so that is not the best route to the upper lakes.

The real route to the upper Lyman lakes begins about 3 miles in, by crossing the outlet of the main lake and traversing upward along the steep east side of the lake. At 6,000 ft be careful not to accidentally get on Spider Gap Trail. At that intersection the lake and the trail down to it are easily visible.

You won't see them, but there are numerous old mines and claims around you based on discoveries of lead, silver, gold, copper, beryllium, and molybdenum.

Greenwood Falls

At 3.33 miles there is an intersection with Crown Mine Trail which leads south, then east, past a 1897 molybdenum mine that had a mill on the south side of the creek at Crown Point falls. At this trail intersection you are next to Greenwood Falls. As you hike down-valley from Greenwood Falls you may get views of it by looking back to the SW. 3.65 miles in there is side trail that goes south for 0.2 miles, down 50 ft, to an incredible camp site on the north side of the river bend with a view upstream of Greenwood falls. Please leave no trace and poop near the main trail, not the creek.

Hart lake

6.8 miles in you will reach Hart Lake. There is a pit toilet above at Hart Lake at Hart Lake Camp, please use it when in this area. The inlet delta at Hart Lake is a great unofficial place to camp (LNT!)

8.65 miles in you will cross Holden Creek.

Holden Copper Mine

As you approach Holden you may see the gravel fields on south side of the river. This is a large EPA superfund clean-up site built to remove arsenic, Lead, molybdenum, sulfer-pyrite, and uranium from the runoff from huge tailings piles left when the mine was closed in 1957. The mine produce mostly copper but also gold and zinc and employed about 600 people. The clean-up project started in 2012 and was completed in 2016. An underground barrier wall was built, and the creek rerouted, to prevent runoff from entering the creek.

. This site includes a large water treatment plant.

The site was claimed the summer of 1896 by James Henry Holden who found a copper outcropping there. But mining operations did not begin until 1938, 20 years after his death.

Holden Village

You arrive at Holden when the trail turns south to cross a gravel road then a bridge. You should see some yellow school busses ahead parked near the bus stop. To go to Holden Village, do not cross the bridge, instead follow the gravel road east.

Holden Village was deeded to Seattle Lutheran Bible Institute in 1960 by the Howe Sound Mining Company for $100K. They hold a special use permit from the US Forest Service, who owns and maintains the road. The village was closed in 2012 when the mine clean-up began and repurposed to house and feed the construction workers. During that time the village infrastructure was improved by the church. The village reopened to guests in 2021.

The forest on both sides of Holden and all the way down to Lake Chelan may appear to be young. A wildfire burned the area in 2015 but thankfully went no further up the scenic valley.

Transportation via lake Chelan

bus ferry