Copper Ridge and Chilliwack River Loop

North Cascades National Park, via Hannegan Pass in the Mount Baker Wilderness (east of Glacier)

Check before you go. Check before you go: the park's fire closures page (updated Oct. 6, 2026) lists U.S. Cabin Stock Camp, Graybeal and Graybeal Stock camps, and Whatcom Camp in the Chilliwack area as closed until further notice. The Pacific Northwest Trail Association (Aug. 27, 2026) says travel between Whatcom Pass and the Chilliwack River has reopened but those camps remain closed. Plan your nights around the camps that are open. The park's Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount closed for the season Oct. 11, 2026; NPS says self-issue permits are available outside it during the winter closure, or you can submit a permit by email following the steps on the park's permits page (updated Oct. 15, 2026). Self-issue permits are valid only while the center is closed; it reopens in mid-May 2027. Steep snow can cover Copper Ridge early and late in the season.

Copper Ridge runs along the northern edge of North Cascades National Park, a few miles south of the Canadian border. Paired with the Chilliwack River valley, it makes one of the park’s named loop trips. The Park Service lists the loop at 33.5 miles and suggests 4 to 6 days.

The loop starts on Forest Service land at Hannegan Pass, then enters the park at Boundary Camp. From there you choose, by permit, whether to climb to the ridge first or drop into the river valley.

The hike

From the end of Hannegan Road, the Hannegan Pass Trail climbs through silver fir and avalanche clearings to the pass, with views of Ruth Mountain, according to the Cascade Hiker Podcast. The trail drops quickly to Boundary Camp, about 5 miles from the trailhead (NPS), where the loop splits.

The ridge leg follows the Copper Ridge Trail, which the Park Service lists at 13.9 miles and rates strenuous. Three designated camps sit on the ridge: Silesia and Egg Lake west of the lookout, and Copper Lake east of it. NPS says all three have composting toilets and food storage lockers. Copper Lookout sits at the crest, and the Park Service notes the views when clouds clear. Revegetation netting covers damaged ground around Egg and Copper Lakes, and NPS asks hikers to stay off it.

The ridge is hot and dry in summer. Hiking Project’s description says Silesia Camp has no water, Egg Lake is about 0.3 mile down a side trail, and a small waterfall past Copper Lake is the last reliable water for nearly 6 miles.

East of Copper Lake the trail descends steeply to the Chilliwack valley and Indian Creek Camp, crossing braided river channels by a series of fords. NPS says to watch closely for the trail there. The Chilliwack River Trail then runs back upstream through old-growth forest. About a mile past U.S. Cabin, the route crosses the Chilliwack River itself. The Park Service says it is often less than knee deep in late July and August, with a cable car for high water; Hiking Project suggests gloves, since the pull rope is rough. Past the crossing, the Brush Creek Trail branches off toward Whatcom Pass; check the notice above before planning that side trip. Copper Creek Camp sits 2.5 miles below Boundary Camp (NPS), and from there you climb back over Hannegan Pass.

A 2019 Mountaineers trip report covers four days on the loop: a dry night at Silesia with a mile round trip to Egg Lake for water, a short day with lunch at the lookout and a swim in Copper Lake, and two mid-shin fords of the Chilliwack.

For a shorter North Cascades overnight, see Thornton Lakes.

Tips

Have a backup itinerary. NPS says permits are limited and Copper Ridge camps fill quickly.
Carry extra water on the ridge. Silesia Camp is dry (Hiking Project).
Bring an ice axe early in the season. NPS says steep snow can linger on the ridge until July.
Leave dogs at home. Pets aren’t allowed at Boundary Camp or beyond in the park.
Ford only at low water, and use the cable car when the river is high.

Camping

All overnight stays in the park need a backcountry permit for a specific camp, and the number issued is limited. NPS says reservations on Recreation.gov begin in March; you watch a required video, then email the park no more than 3 days before your trip to have the permit issued. About 40% of sites are held for walk-up permits issued the day of or day before your start, at the Wilderness Information Center or the Glacier Public Service Center. Fires aren’t allowed on the ridge, at any Copper Ridge camp, or at Boundary and Whatcom camps. The park group-size limit in trail corridors and camps is 12. Bear canisters are lent at the Wilderness Information Center and Glacier Public Service Center for camps that require them.

Inside Intel: In a 2019 Mountaineers trip report, Richard Lambe praised Copper Lake, writing that it “provided a refreshing swim on a warm day,” and captioned a photo “The view from the best seat at Copper Lake.” He called Silesia “spectacular” but noted it “was dry.”

Trail facts

Distance: About 34 miles (33.5 NPS; 34.6 Hiking Project)
Route type: Lollipop loop from the Hannegan Pass trailhead
Difficulty: Strenuous
Campsites: Boundary (about 5 miles in), Silesia, Egg Lake, and Copper Lake on the ridge; Indian Creek and Copper Creek in the valley (check closures)
Water: Scarce on the ridge; Egg Lake, Copper Lake, creeks and the river in the valley; treat all water
Permits: NPS backcountry permit for every night
Fires: Not allowed on Copper Ridge or at Boundary Camp
Dogs: Not allowed at Boundary Camp or beyond
Trailhead: Hannegan Pass, end of Hannegan Road (USFS Road 32), off the Mount Baker Highway
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

Two fords of the Chilliwack River:

Below Copper Ridge, braided channels near Indian Creek Camp mean a series of fords, and the Chilliwack itself is often under knee deep in late summer, with a cable car for high water. Five tips for crossing well.

Get the five tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.