Cascade Pass & Sahale Arm
North Cascades, WA
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Late fall conditions on Sahale Arm — snow showers arriving Wednesday night with 93% precip probability, temps dropping to 28°F, and only 9h49m of daylight. Manageable if you're prepared for winter camping, but Wednesday night into Thursday will be genuinely snowy and cold. The stream flow data in this briefing is from Central California gauges and doesn't apply to your route — treat any crossings on the Cascade Pass trail with your own on-the-ground judgment.
36°/29°F · Cloudy
No Rating (0/5)
0" depth
Elevated flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
9h 49m daylight · Sunrise 6:54 AM · Sunset 4:43 PM
Full Briefing
The biggest logistical issue this trip is daylight. Sunset at 4:43 PM means you're working with under 10 hours of usable light daily. If you're starting Tuesday, plan your approach to Cascade Pass (3,600 ft gain from the trailhead) knowing you'll want to be camped well before 4 PM. Golden hour starts at 3:57 — don't count on that for meaningful travel time. Build your day plans around a noon start today and full days Tuesday through Thursday, but keep turnaround hard stops in mind.
Weather is the other real factor. Tuesday looks fine — partly sunny, high 35°F, light wind. Wednesday is your window to push onto the Arm, with mostly sunny skies through the afternoon before a slight chance of snow showers late. But Wednesday night flips hard: 93% precip probability, snow showers, dropping to 28°F with SW winds 5-9 mph. Thursday continues with snow showers likely at 32°F. At Sahale Arm elevation (~7,600 ft), you should expect those overnight snow showers to lay down meaningful accumulation — plan for a potentially snowy pack-out Thursday. Make sure your shelter is bomber and your sleeping system handles low 20s with wind chill factored in.
Avalanche danger has no formal rating yet for the season — the Northwest Avalanche Center isn't issuing bulletins. Snowpack SNOTEL stations (Annie Springs at 6,021 ft, McNeil Canyon at 1,348 ft) are all showing zero depth. The Arm and the ridge above Cascade Pass will have some early-season snow in patches from prior events, but no significant consolidated snowpack. The standard avalanche terrain on Sahale Arm isn't loaded right now. That said, new snow Wednesday night on top of whatever's already up there warrants standard eyes-open travel — look for any recent cracking or collapsing before you move across steeper sections above the camp zone.
The stream flow data served for this briefing is from Central California and has no relevance to your route — disregard it entirely. The Cascade River drainage will be running at typical late fall levels; expect the creek crossings near the trailhead to be routine this time of year, but verify conditions in person. No fires within 50 miles, air quality is clean. Get on the trail early each day and be camped before 4 PM.
Waypoints
Cascade Pass Trailhead
Road ends here after the long Cascade River Road approach. 3.7 miles to the pass.
2,848 ft
Cascade Pass
Historic Native American travel route across the Cascades. Views of Pelton Peak and Magic Mountain.
5,394 ft
Sahale Arm High Point
Top of the arm. Glacier views. Backcountry campers can continue to Sahale Glacier Camp.
7,598 ft
Route Details
Distance
11.2 mi
Elevation Gain
5,000 ft
Elevation Loss
5,000 ft
Max Elevation
7,598 ft
Estimated Days
1
Trailhead
Cascade Pass Trailhead
Best Season
Road opens mid-June. Snow on Sahale Arm through July. Best wildflowers in July. Fall color in October.
About This Route
Cascade Pass is one of the most spectacular day hikes in the North Cascades, rising through old-growth forest to a flower-filled alpine pass at 5,392 feet with dramatic views of glaciated peaks. The optional extension up Sahale Arm adds 1,600 feet more to a rocky ridge with views of the Cascade Glacier. The 3.7-mile trail to Cascade Pass gains 1,800 feet through dense fir and hemlocks before breaking out above treeline near the pass. The meadows around the pass are carpeted with wildflowers in July—lupine, paintbrush, and aster in vivid color against grey granite and white glacier ice. From Cascade Pass, the Sahale Arm trail continues up a steep spine with no shade and no water. The arm culminates at 7,600 feet with views that include Boston Peak, Buckner Mountain, and the intricate crevasse systems of the Quien Sabe Glacier. The area sees significant snow through mid-July and the road to the trailhead doesn't open until snowpack melts, typically mid-June. Bears and marmots are common. The remote location (Cascade River Road from Marblemount) means limited cell service and self-reliance is essential.
Plan This Route
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Plan This Route