HIKING / BACKPACKING

Distance: 23 miles round trip Hiking Time: 2-3 days High Point: 6200 feet

Elevation Gain: 4300 feet in, 700 feet out

Maps: USGS Sloan Peak, Glacier Peak West, Bench Mark Mountain Greentrails - Sloan Peak #111, Glacier Peak #112 Bench Mark Mountain #144

The trail starts on the North Fork Sauk Trail (see North Fork Sauk Trail) for 3 miles at which time the right fork is taken crossing the river on a foot log before gaining 3000 feet in the next 3 miles. The first good campsite is found at 8 miles at a tarn on the north side of the ridge, just over the saddle. At 10 miles the trail junctions to the trail leading 1 mile to Johnson Mountain. The main trail continues reaching a junction at 10.5 miles with 22 acre Upper Blue Lake to the left and 3 acre Lower Blue to the right in 0.5 miles. The right fork is the main trail and ends at June Mtn. with a junction at the Bald Eagle Trail.

Directions: From Verlot travel east on the Mountain Loop Highway 27 miles to the Sloan Creek Road #49 and turn right. Drive the road 6.6 miles to the trailhead in the Sloan Creek Campground.