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Pacific Crest Trail: WA Section 3

BIG MOSQUITO LAKE to SHEEP LAKE: In-your-face glacier views of Mt. Adams dominate most of this 45.2-mile leg through beautiful subalpine meadows to the shores of a lovely ridgetop lake.

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Trail Facts

  • Distance: 72.7

Waypoints

PCT1418

Location: 46.1246185302734, -121.753868103027

Cross paved road

PCT1419

Location: 46.1253318786621, -121.751663208008

Cross outlet of Big Mosquito Lake

PCT1420

Location: 46.1260986328125, -121.750396728516

Pass a large campsite

PCT1421

Location: 46.1255836486816, -121.740631103516

Pass a spring

PCT1422

Location: 46.1252822875977, -121.739166259766

Pass another spring

PCT1423

Location: 46.1238174438477, -121.734031677246

Cross a creek

PCT1424

Location: 46.1265487670898, -121.715049743652

Cross a creek flowing from Steamboat Lake to the N

PCT1425

Location: 46.1348152160644, -121.690986633301

Cross paved road

PCT1426

Location: 46.1333351135254, -121.684730529785

Cross Trout Lake Creek; pass nice campsites

PCT1427

Location: 46.1318168640137, -121.661972045898

Cross dirt road

PCT1428

Location: 46.1618995666504, -121.632217407227

Cross a dirt and paved road

PCT1429

Location: 46.1623649597168, -121.63159942627

Cross creek

PCT1430

Location: 46.1701011657715, -121.628036499023

Cross dirt road

PCT1431

Location: 46.1730155944824, -121.626586914062

Cross a swampy creek

PCT1432

Location: 46.1859512329102, -121.62149810791

Cross creek

PCT1433

Location: 46.1806144714356, -121.575759887695

Stay L

PCT1434

Location: 46.1796340942383, -121.568664550781

Turn L @ trail jct.; superb views of Mt. Adams to the NE.
Spend some time at Horseshoe Meadows to the NE, a large meadow with a trickling creek during the early season (It’s likely dry in the late summer, so don’t expect to find water). Pockets of trees create secluded camps; superb up close views of the S side of Mt. Adams and the White Salmon Glacier. A good basecamp for further exploration N on the PCT or around Mt. Adams.

PCT1435

Location: 46.1794013977051, -121.567100524902

Beautiful camp (no water) @ S end of Horseshoe Meadow with views of Mt. Adams to the NE

PCT1436

Location: 46.1794013977051, -121.563285827637

Another campsite

PCT1437

Location: 46.212516784668, -121.570602416992

Decent camp @ Sheep Lake, which dries up by mid-August. Riley Creek to the N may be a better source of water

PCT1438

Location: 46.2130508422852, -121.568496704102

Cross Riley Creek; water is somewhat silty tasting, but clear; quality varies

PCT1439

Location: 46.214900970459, -121.567749023438

Spur on L leads to Riley Camp

PCT1440

Location: 46.2155990600586, -121.566780090332

Cross creeklet

PCT1441

Location: 46.2168350219727, -121.565414428711

Cross creeklet

PCT1442

Location: 46.237434387207, -121.548530578613

Cross Lewis River; water is silty

PCT1443

Location: 46.2404327392578, -121.545783996582

Stay straight

PCT1444

Location: 46.2412376403809, -121.54467010498

Cross Adams Creek; muddy water is not good for drinking.

PCT1445

Location: 46.2508163452148, -121.53296661377

Stay straight @ jct.; trail curves to the NE

PCT1446

Location: 46.2554168701172, -121.522018432617

Cross Killen Creek; great campsites. Head to the NE and leave behind close-up views of Mt. Adams

PCT1447

Location: 46.2566337585449, -121.519134521484

Go L @ Highline Trail jct.

PCT1448

Location: 46.2836990356445, -121.50513458252

Stay straight @ jct. with Muddy Meadows Trail

PCT1449

Location: 46.3005599975586, -121.504898071289

Cross creeklet

PCT1450

Location: 46.3022346496582, -121.504669189453

Cross Muddy Fork; muddy water is not good to drink

PCT1451

Location: 46.304931640625, -121.51180267334

Cross creek; good water

PCT1452

Location: 46.3051338195801, -121.512832641602

Pass forested campsite along the creek with space for approx. 4 tents

PCT1453

Location: 46.3050346374512, -121.517852783203

Set up camp at Lava Spring; space for many tents. Lava Spring flows out from a lava field; one of the best, highest flow springs on the whole trail.

PCT1454

Location: 46.3252830505371, -121.506233215332

Cross gravel road

PCT1455

Location: 46.3503684997559, -121.517784118652

Cross dirt road

PCT1456

Location: 46.3530502319336, -121.520851135254

Cross creek

PCT1457

Location: 46.3559494018555, -121.518814086914

Cross Midway Creek; pass campsite

PCT1458

Location: 46.3641014099121, -121.508682250977

Creek crossing

PCT1459

Location: 46.3958511352539, -121.485382080078

Turn R onto Coleman Weedpatch Trail

PCT1460

Location: 46.3892669677734, -121.451187133789

Cross creek with a campsite

PCT1461

Location: 46.4102821350098, -121.403114318848

Go straight @ Walnut Lake Trail jct.

PCT1462

Location: 46.4561653137207, -121.420402526855

Cross dry Walupt Creek

PCT1463

Location: 46.453067779541, -121.431396484375

Sheep Lake has very nice camping, good swimming and views towards Mt. Adams. To leave PCT, take Nannie Ridge Trail to nearby Walupt Lake. To continue on PCT, head N.

More PCT: Next Section | Previous Section

Mt. Adams

Location: 46.1797370910644, -121.568923950195

©Jack Haskel

Adams Creek Crossing

Location: 46.2411346435547, -121.544044494629

©Jakc Haskel

Glacier Close Up

Location: 46.2339630126953, -121.553192138672

©Jack Haskel

Rockpile and Glacier

Location: 46.2339630126953, -121.553192138672

©Jack Haskel

Mount Adams Long View

Location: 46.3154296875, -121.513496398926

©Jack Haskel

Adams over a ridge

Location: 46.3561630249023, -121.518272399902

©Jack Haskel

Mount Hood

Location: 46.2094421386719, -121.572875976562

Left behind in Oregon, Mount Hood still hangs on the horizon. ©Jack Haskel

Rainier in the foreground

Location: 46.2077789306641, -121.57007598877

Ahead lies Rainier. ©Jack Haskel

Adams from afar

Location: 46.3989601135254, -121.467460632324

©Jack Haskel

Crumbly peak

Location: 46.3989601135254, -121.428207397461

©Jack Haskel

Lava Spring

Location: 46.3046188354492, -121.518218994141

Lava Spring flows out from a lava field; one of the best, highest flow springs on the whole trail. ©Jack Haskel

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