more stats
2.9 miles
Distance
2,274 ft
Climb
-54 ft
Descent
1 mile
High Point
2,219 ft
Altitude change
4,479 ft
Altitude min
4,479 ft
Altitude start
6,699 ft
Altitude end
14.5%
Grade
-26.5%
Grade max
53.4%
Grade min
3 miles
Distance climb
974 ft
Distance down
351 ft
Distance flat

Copper Pass Details

  • Activities
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Lake Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness
    Twisp, Washington
  • Ref Number
    #426
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Local Popularity
    80 in Hiking [+]
    • 90 in Trail Running
  • Global Ranking
    #25813 in Hiking [+]
    • #14421 in Trail Running
  • State Ranking
    #945 in Hiking · Washington [+]
    • #542 in Trail Running
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • OSM Way
    #564153481

The trail from Gilbert Trailhead passes through avalanche chutes and subalpine forest with large spruce trees for the first 2.2 miles. The last mile before the pass, crosses open basins with scattered stands of subalpine forest. The upper basin can hold snow into July. The upper Copper Basin is scenic. From the pass there are fine views of Stiletto Peak, Gilbert Mountain, and Kangaroo Ridge. The trail from the Pacific Crest Trail side is seldom maintained. Impassable for stock. This route is recommended for experienced backcountry travelers only as trail may be faint and hard to follow in places. This is a good hike for experienced backcountry travelers who are looking for isolation. The eastern portion of this trail is not recommended for stock as the trail is very rocky for stock east of Copper Pass.

Tags
AlpineRockySummitViews

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 1 rides
  • 13 miles avg distance
All
  • 1 rides
  •  
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Copper Pass Trail Reports

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      Directions to copper-pass trailhead (48.465230, -120.608560)
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      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      1 Review & Comments

      Chrisz2EtKw
      June 17, 2026: many blowdowns and lots of overgrown brush in the trail, but passable. Snow in the last mile before the pass.

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      Nearby Trails

      Lake Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness

      This trails GPS track was originally sourced from OpenStreetMap and will always be available for download in OSM Format.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Copper Pass located?
      Copper Pass is located in Lake Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness, Twisp, Washington, United States. It is part of the Lake Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 48.46523, -120.60856.
      ▼ How hard is Copper Pass?
      Copper Pass is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The average grade is 14.5%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Copper Pass?
      Copper Pass has 2,274 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 54 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 4,479 ft to 6,698 ft.
      ▼ Is Copper Pass a point to point trail?
      Copper Pass is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Copper Pass?
      Copper Pass is 2.9 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Copper Pass?
      There is no information about dogs being allowed on Copper Pass. Check with local trail managers or the trail page for the latest access rules.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to hike Copper Pass?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to hike Copper Pass are:
      • June (1 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Copper Pass? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Copper Pass are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to hike Copper Pass?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 2 hours 47 minutes to hike Copper Pass. The trail is 2.9 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Copper Pass?
      Copper Pass is a very popular trail. There have been 5 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 6 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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