Copper Ridge Gear Checklist
The Copper Ridge Loop climbs from Hannegan Pass to a dry ridge camp, runs along a lookout ridge, then drops almost to river level for a Chilliwack River crossing before climbing back out. Hikers who did it plan their pack around water on the dry ridge, shoes and gloves for the river and cable car, bug protection for the low camps, and food storage that the camps do not always provide. The park's rule is to hang food or use a canister or box, and the trip reports show that people carried both kinds of gear.
What shapes your gear on Copper Ridge Loop
- Day splits people used
- A three-day trip in July 2020 went 8.2 miles to Silesia Camp, 11.5 miles on to Indian Creek Camp, and about 14.6 miles back to the trailhead. A September 2018 group walked 10.1, 12.8 and 11.4 miles in the other direction and said a fourth day would have been kinder. Both called the middle day the hardest.
From Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020 and Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, September 3, 2018
- Where the water is
- Silesia Camp has none. The Egg Lake junction is a few steps past it, with water and camps 0.3 miles below. The waterfall half a mile past Copper Lake is described as the last dependable water for nearly 6 miles. Boundary Camp water needs a short steep climber's path, and Graybeal Camp on the Brush Creek side runs dry in late summer.
From Hiking Project and Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020
- The Chilliwack crossing
- The low point is about 2,225 feet, at a wet crossing of the Chilliwack River and Indian Creek. A 2020 hiker found the first channel ankle deep and the main one thigh deep with a strong afternoon current. A 2013 writer called the main ford waist deep and used the cable car instead, which carries two backpackers.
From Hiking Project, Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020 and North Cascades Institute
- How high the ridge goes
- Sources disagree on Copper Mountain Lookout. The 2013 blog puts it at 6,600 feet, the highest point of the trail. The Hiking Project description gives 6,260 feet, 9.9 miles from the trailhead.
From North Cascades Institute and Hiking Project
- Permits
- The park requires a backcountry permit year-round, and Copper Ridge is one of the areas it names as filling fast in summer. Reservations open in March on Recreation.gov. Rangers may issue walk-up permits by email for the Hannegan Pass and Copper Ridge area, subject to conditions and availability.
What the agency requires on Copper Ridge Loop
A backcountry permit with a signed copy on you
Permits are required all year and are valid only for the trip leader, the group size and the sites and dates listed. Your group must follow its itinerary, and you carry a signed copy into the backcountry to show rangers.
A way to store food: a hang or a canister or box
Store food properly at all times. Hang food and scented items at least 12 feet up and 5 feet out from any tree limb, or use a food canister or box.
A stove instead of a fire
The park asks for a stove in place of a campfire. Where fires are allowed, use established rings only and burn only small, dead and downed wood.
A plan for human waste
Use toilets where they are provided. Where there are none, dig a cathole in organic soil. On rock, snow or ice, pack out human waste.
What hikers carry on Copper Ridge Loop
Sandals or camp shoes for the Chilliwack ford
The crossing sits at the bottom of the loop, and the Hiking Project page calls it a wet crossing. A 2020 hiker met a strong current in the afternoon. A 2013 writer took shoes and socks off for the first channel and again for the second one at Indian Creek.
From Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020, Hiking Project and North Cascades Institute
Work gloves for the cable car
The Hiking Project route description says the pull rope is rough and takes strength, and it advises gloves. A 2013 writer says the car holds two backpackers with their gear and glides about 100 feet above the river, and a 2020 hiker found it fun and easy to use.
From Hiking Project, North Cascades Institute and Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020
Enough water to camp dry on the ridge
Silesia Camp has no water, and the Egg Lake side trip adds a short detour each way. The waterfall half a mile past Copper Lake is the last dependable source for nearly 6 miles. The 2020 group walked down to Egg Lake after setting up camp.
From Hiking Project and Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020
Bug net and long pants
In July 2020 the group sat behind bug nets at Silesia, left Copper Lake quickly because of insects, and says biting flies pushed them on near Boundary Camp and Hannegan Pass. They recommend pants between Indian Creek and Copper Creek, where the trail is brushy.
From Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020
Trekking poles
The same group used them for patches of snow after Copper Lookout, which needed some trail finding, and says poles or strong legs help in the thigh-deep main ford.
From Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020
A food hang kit or canister, depending on the camp
In 2018 a group hung food in a bear-resistant sack at US Cabin Camp, then found a bear vault at Copper Lake. The park accepts a hang, a canister or a box, so what you bring depends on what the camp on your permit has.
From Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, September 3, 2018 and North Cascades National Park (NPS)
Dry clothes, a warm bag and a hot meal for storm nights
A 2013 five-day trip had thunder and rain on its first two nights and pounding rain by Whatcom Camp. The writer says dry layers, warm sleeping bags and hot food fix morale fast after pitching a tent wet.
12 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Copper Ridge Loop
Squeezing the loop into three days
The 2018 group said two nights was doable but felt like a march at times and would have taken three nights. The 2020 group called three days challenging even as moderate-to-experienced backpackers.
From Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, September 3, 2018 and Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020
Trusting one mileage figure for the last day
The 2020 group says the ranger described the last stretch as 17 miles, while their own estimate from mile markers was closer to 14.6. They carried no GPS to settle it, so build slack into the day.
From Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020
Fording late in the day
The 2020 hiker reports a strong afternoon current in the main channel. Cross in the morning if you can, or use the cable car.
From Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020 and Hiking Project
Gear questions for Copper Ridge Loop
Do I need a bear canister on the Copper Ridge Loop?
The park accepts a hang, a canister or a box. Hang food at least 12 feet up and 5 feet out from a limb. One 2018 group hung food in a bear-resistant sack at US Cabin Camp and used a bear vault at Copper Lake, so check what your camps provide when you get your permit.
From North Cascades National Park (NPS) and Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, September 3, 2018
Is there water at Silesia Camp on the Copper Ridge Loop?
No. The Egg Lake junction is just past the camp, and the lake is 0.3 miles down a side trail. The 2020 group walked down to it after setting up camp.
From Hiking Project and Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020
How hard is the river crossing on the Copper Ridge Loop?
It varies with the season. In July 2020 the main channel was thigh deep for a hiker about 5 feet 6 inches tall. A 2013 hiker called it waist deep and rode the cable car. Gloves are advised for the car's rough pull rope.
From Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020, North Cascades Institute and Hiking Project
How many days does the Copper Ridge Loop take?
Groups in these reports took three days, with a day-by-day split between 8 and 15 miles, or five days with a side trip toward Whatcom Pass. The hikers who did three days called it demanding.
From Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020, Washington Trails Association: Copper Ridge Loop trip report, September 3, 2018 and North Cascades Institute
Can I have a campfire on the Copper Ridge Loop?
The park asks you to use a stove. Where fires are allowed, use only established rings and small, dead and downed wood.
Sources
- Backcountry Permits · North Cascades National Park (NPS) · Agency
- Backpacking Copper Ridge & the Chilliwack · North Cascades Institute, Andy Porter · Blog
- Copper Ridge Loop · Hiking Project · Blog
- Copper Ridge Loop trip report, July 30, 2020 · Washington Trails Association, margorai · Trip report
- Copper Ridge Loop trip report, September 3, 2018 · Washington Trails Association, doristheexplorist · Trip report