Length: 4.35 miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1119' gain
Season: Summer thru fall
Difficulty: Challenging
Permit: NW Forest Pass Required
Latitude: 46.9175
Longitude: -121.2331
Features:
This is a shuttle hike in that you begin at one location
but end on the same access road, but much further away.
In season, this can be a very floral hike.
It hiked the trail from the northern trailhead to the southern.
The trail climbs steeply at times and is mostly in a densely
forested area. Occasionally, you can get glimpses of the
hills and mountains around you, but not until you cross Rainbow
Creek, do you really get awesome views.
Nearly two and a half miles into the hike, you will cross a very
substantial bridge across Rainbow Creek. Just south of the bridge,
there is a campsite just below the trail.
The trail climbs south of the bridge and the views are awesome.
In a little less than a mile, you will come to a junction to the
Boulder Creek Trail. Continue on forward as the tail begins to
descend into the valley.
Soon you will come to a couple of switchbacks that offer excellent
views of the Stehekin River below. You will also catch views of
Lake Chelan to the south.
Looking north toward the North Cascades from the Rainbow Loop trail
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