Hiking Gothic Peak near Mountain Loop Highway
Contents
Gothic Peak Hike Information
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 16.90Km (10.50 Miles)
Elevation Gain: 1,212m (3,976Ft.)
Highest Elevation: 1,874m
Average Gradient: 14.34%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 7 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 7 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Summer
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: Short Class 3 scramble with some exposure.
Gothic Peak Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 48°01’32.7″N 121°26’37.3″W
Gothic Peak Overview
Gothic Peak is a summit situated within the specially designated, ecologically sensitive Gothic Basin in the Morning Star Natural Resources Conservation Area. While Gothic Basin makes for a very popular area for both hikers and campers thanks to its stunning mountain scenery and alpine lakes, summiting Gothic Peak requires further travel up talus slopes, before a short Class 3 scramble to the summit with some exposure. Gothic Peak is often compared to the nearby Del Campo Peak, with both attainable in the same day trip for fit parties. While both are Class 3 scrambles, Gothic Peak is much shorter, simpler and less exposed than Del Campo.
As noted Gothic Basin is an incredibly popular region in the summer, drawing many visitors every weekend. The hike up to the basin is a rugged and steep one. The miners that first constructed this trail did not follow the usual WA mantra of manicured, well graded switchbacks up the mountain, instead preferring a steep, direct and rocky climb. The first 3km of the hike are a practically flat walk along the Sauk River, meaning the entire elevation gain is really spread out over the remaining 5.5km of hiking to the summit, for an average gradient of around 22%.
Gothic Peak is perfectly manageable as a day hike, but many parties will opt to break this up over a weekend by camping at Foggy Lake and summiting the next day. Some parties will also summit the nearby Del Campo Peak as well, which is a far more challenging scramble than Gothic and should not be taken lightly. Helmets should be worn for both peaks as there is plenty of loose rock around.
Camping within Gothic Basin is on a first come, first served basis, so get there early if you intend to go on a weekend. Camping should remain within designated campsites on flat, firm ground so as not to damage the ecosystem.
Parking for Gothic Basin is from Barlow Pass along Mountain Loop Highway, with lots of overflow parking on the side of the road available if needed. It is all 2WD accessible. You will need to buy a Northwest Forest Pass to park here.
Gothic Peak is predominantly a summer hike, with the main season running from July to October. Mountain Loop Highway closes in the winter, typically reopening around Memorial Day and closing again once the snow arrives in the late fall/early winter. In the late spring and early summer you can expect to encounter snow for sections of the trail, and Foggy Lake may remain frozen until mid-summer. You may want to bring an ice axe and crampons in the early season as the approach up to the scramble can involve some steep snow travel.
Dogs are welcome in Gothic Basin and some dogs may make it up Gothic Peak with human assistance on the scramble.
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Is Gothic Peak worthwhile?
Gothic Peak is the easier of the two main summits within Gothic Basin, which is itself an incredibly scenic area and a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, offering stunning views, pristine lakes and dramatic peaks every which way you look. The scramble does involve some exposed Class 3, though much of the scramble is avoidable by remaining low down on the talus slopes.
How difficult is the hike to Gothic Peak?
Gothic Peak is a physically demanding hike. The entire elevation gain comes over just 5.5km, which makes for a persistently steep grunt up. Most parties will take a long rest at Foggy Lake before continuing on to the summit, which thankfully should only take another 45 minutes or so to ascend from Foggy Lake.
Technically speaking the hike up to Foggy Lake is straightforward, albeit on some very rough and ready terrain, with plenty of boulders to navigate throughout. From the lake, the hike up to Gothic Peak is mostly straightforward. Parties have a choice of gaining the ridge early and scrambling along (one or two exposed steps), or they can opt to ascend via a talus/scree slope below the ridge and connect back to it at the summit block. Whichever way you go, the summit block is a Class 3 scramble with some exposure, though it’s over pretty quickly.
Gothic Peak Route Information
As noted, parking for Gothic Peak is from Barlow Pass. There is a designated parking area with a washroom and picnic table here, but there is also a lot of parking along the side of Mountain Loop Highway. All of it is 2WD accessible.
From the parking lot you’ll walk to a junction where the Monte Cristo Trail begins beyond a gated road. You’ll now follow the Monte Cristo Trail adjacent to the Sauk River, which is a wide gravel road, for the first 1.5 kilometers. Some people bring a bike and cycle this portion, but it won’t save a lot of time. Keep an eye out for an outhouse and signage indicating Gothic Basin as you’ll now be departing the groomed trail and heading into the forest.
After turning off the Monte Cristo Trail it’s still an easy stroll through the forest for another kilometer before the hike truly begins in earnest. Shortly after crossing Weeden Creek you’ll begin climbing steeply. Initially the trail will be simple forest travel on dirt, but it soon becomes more technical, transitioning to rock. At around 1,100m you break out of the forest and begin traversing across the steep eastern slopes of Del Campo Peak. Here you’ll scramble across several creeks, and in the early season snow bridges may still be lingering and require careful navigation.
The trail remains rugged throughout, but eventually at around 1,500m elevation you will reach Gothic Pass, the gateway to Gothic Basin, where you will want to follow a trail to the right and continue your journey to Foggy Lake.
You’ll now pass by Gothic Lake following a fairly obvious trail, but shortly ahead the terrain will become primarily rock and talus, with any semblance of trail vanishing. Cairns will usually aid in your navigation, but as long as you keep climbing, in short order you will reach the shores of the vast Foggy Lake. There are a number of campsites dotted around the lake, but locating them all can be a challenge as the terrain hides them well. Most parties will stop at Foggy Lake to soak in the views and re-energize before continuing on to Gothic Peak. Gothic Peak itself is clearly visible at this point as the leftmost summit from a trio of bumps on the west side of Foggy Lake.
Once ready to continue you’ll head clockwise around the lake, hiking steeply up to the southeastern ridge of Gothic Peak. There should be a few cairns here and there to guide you, but you can really pick your own route at this point.
The terrain soon gives way to talus, and shortly ahead you have a couple of options. The “standard” route is to gain the ridge early and scramble across it to the base of the summit block. This does involve some airy Class 3 steps that some people may not be comfortable with. If you prefer an easier approach you can avoid gaining the ridge early and instead continue hiking below the ridge on talus and scree. This isn’t that pleasant, but it avoids any exposed scrambling.
Both routes will reconnect at the base of the summit block where you will be faced with an unavoidable Class 3 scramble up to the summit. The scramble is very short lived, perhaps 20 vertical meters, and if you stay close to the branches of the trees you can avoid much of the exposure anyway. In very short order you will be on the summit where the views will now be panoramic. Unfortunately some of the view towards Del Campo is obstructed by a ridge that continues along Gothic Peak. You could continue along the ridge if you don’t mind a bit more exposed scrambling. On a clear day you’ll be able to see all the way to Mount Rainier, Mount Baker and Glacier Peak.
Once you’ve finished up at the summit you simply hike back the way you came. Unfortunately the rugged terrain makes for a very slow and draining exit and you’ll be thankful to reach the forest once you get there.
When should I hike Gothic Peak?
Access to Gothic Basin and thus Gothic Peak will only be possible once Mountain Loop Highway opens for the year, usually around Memorial Day. Even so, spring and early summer will be a challenging time as snow will be abundant at these elevations well into early summer, so the prime season is really July to October. In the early season you may want to bring snow gear for the approach.
Top Tip
Capable parties may want to consider adding on Del Campo Peak, making a full day or weekend of it. Del Campo Peak is much more demanding than Gothic Peak, with a far more sustained and exposed Class 3 scramble required to summit.
If you intend to camp in the basin on a weekend you will want to start very early. While there is plenty of space up there, campsites can be tricky to find as much of the surface is uneven rock.
