Rainy Lake Trail

Directions:
State Route 20, MP 157.5

Features:
Subalpine forest and wet meadows line this level, paved trail to Rainy Lake. Located near Rainy Pass the trail is noted to be one of the best trails in the state for individuals with disabilities. The trail leaves the parking lot and contours around a sidehill for 1 mile to reach the north end of Rainy Lake. A small observation deck at the lake gives a great view of waterfalls, a glacier and Rainy Lake. High cliffs surround the lake with waterfalls cascading down to the lake. In the fall, the golds and reds of the changing shrubs and trees are spectacular. Along the way are benches, bridges across two mountain streams, and interpretive signs about the surrounding mountains and forest.

Other Info:
Accessible parking and toilet available and picnic tables at the lake. There are cutthroat trout in the lake and fishing is allowed (a Washington State license is required and all state game laws apply). This is part of the Okanogan National Forest and a Northwest Forest Pass is required. Accessible after the snow melts in Late June through early October. Contact the Methow Valley Visitor Center, 509-996-4000, for current trail conditions. Pets are not allowed on any trail in North Cascades National Park except the Pacific Crest Trail, where they must be on a leash.

Washington Pass

Directions:
Washington Pass, the summit of SR 20, is located about six miles east of Rainy Pass at milepost 162.

Features:
The paved, level trail is 800 feet round trip. The accessible part of this trail is short for wheelers, but oh what a view! It passes through sub-alpine forest to a granite bluff 700 feet above the highway with a breathtaking view of Liberty Bell Mountain and Early Winters Spires. Brilliant splashes of color are furnished by paintbrush, lupine, spreading phlox, pentemons, glacier lilies, and other wildflowers. In the Fall golden colored larch trees add to the splendor.

The path starts off through the wildflowers and berry patches. Enjoy the mountain blueberries and wild stawberries along the way. At the further end of the trail you will have panoramic views of the stunning jagged peaks of the Cascade mountains.

For able-bodied companions and some slow walkers the trail continues past the overlook, looping back to the parking area, with stairs and steep ramps. Benches are there for you to rest at. Restroom facilities and the accessible viewpoint trail open in July (depending on snow cover).

Other:
The area has accessible parking and restrooms, an information station, benches, picnic tables and interpretive signs. A Northwest Forest Pass is required.

Lone Fir

Directions:
Lone Fir is located 11 mi W of Mazama on SR 20 at milepost 168 about five miles from Washington Pass. The trailhead is in the Lone Fir Campground, on the right, just beyond the entrance on the one-way campground loop road.

Features:
Enjoy old bridges and early morning wildlife viewing along this paved, interpretive trail. The first part of the trail is rated easy, the last part is rated difficult and may require assistance. The .8-mile round trip winds through the forest and streams and over four old-fashioned log bridges. The accessible part of this trail is paved and mostly level with gentle hills and dips, ending at the longest bridge across Early Winters Creek. The path continues, but is not considered accessible at this time.

The first part of the trail crosses a small creek bed and then Pine Creek on plank bridges. The forest here is typical of the dryer east side of the Cascades, and you will wind through fir, pine, and hemlock, as well as deciduous stands. Underbrush includes flowering currant, ferns, and maple. In season you will see blooming blue larkspur along the trail. The trail continues through an open area of small pine and fir trees and you will see the ridges of the mountains beyond them. Eventually the trail moves up into a larger stand of trees. This grade may require assistance for wheelchair users. The path decends then, and you will hear Early Winters Creek before you can see it. At the Early Winters Creek bridge you have views of the mountain tops in all directions.

Other:
Accessible restrooms are at the other end of the one-way loop road, just before you reach the entrance. Lone Fir has partially accessible campsites.

Blackpine Lake

Directions:
The trail is about 15 miles southwest of Twisp at Blackpine Lake Campground. From Twisp, drive W on Twisp River Rd, turn left on Poorman Creek Rd and continue onto FS 43 for 5 mi to site. The trailhead is located in the day use/dock area.

Features:
The paved, mostly level trail is a half-mile round trip with views of a beautiful little lake surrounded by pines. The trail follows the north side of the lake with benches along the way. There is a protective curb barrier on the edge of the downhill section.

The trail then enters a forest before ending at a viewpoint over the valley with views of Hoodoo Peak.

Other:
Accessible restrooms. Blackpine Lake Campground and trout fishing (no motors). The fishing piers are not accessible, but you may be able to cast from the shoreline trail. Go after the snow melts, Mid-May - mid-October.

Falls Creek

Directions:
About 12 miles north of Winthrop West Chewuch Road.

Features:
A paved 500-foot trail that leads to the base of lower Falls Creek Falls. The remainder of the trail is unaccessible continuing up stone steps and a switchback trail for views of the upper falls. Winthrop's website has photos and a description of the scenic drive up West Chewuch road and the falls.

Other:
Winthrop is a small tourist town with a western motif that is fun to visit with good fishing in nearby lakes and back country roads to explore. Sun Mountain Lodge is nearby if you want stay in the area in comfort. A 4-star destination resort, with a incredible views, it offers horseback riding, hiking, tennis, swimming pool, and total dining.

Big Tree

Directions:
This trail is east of Tonasket near Bonaparte Lake. From Tonasket take State Route 20 east for 24 miles and turn north on Okanogan County Road 4935, which becomes Forest Service Road 32. Continue on FS Road 32 for 4 miles to FS Road 33. Turn left on FS Road 33-050 for 1 mile to the Lost Lake Campground.

Features:
The easy trail is a compacted gravel and dirt trail, generally flat, with two short sections with a 25 percent grade that require assistance. Note: This trail is not rated by the forest service as ADA accessible, and may be limited to slow walkers.

Trail starts across the road from the Lost Lake guard house at the entrance to the campground. Look for the trail sign to the Big Tree Botanical Area. This trail connects with a loop trail that highlights two 600-year old western larch trees. The loop trail is 0.7 mile long. This is a particularly beautiful in June when the wildflowers are out.

Other:
Bonaparte Campground is along Bonaparte Lake and has an accessible fishing platform and fully accessible facilities. From Tonasket, go E on SR 20 for 26 mi. Turn left (N) on FS 4953 and go about 6 mi to campground. See Bonaparte Lake fishing map. Note: If fishing is one of your pleasures, you probably already know that Okanogon County has over 31 lakes. Additional lakes in this northern area include Spectacle, Palmer, and Wannacut Lakes. See also Stevens County in the Northeast section of this website.

Camping in the Okanogan Area

Lone Fir (27 sites) is the first real campground below Washington Pass. Continuing eastward on Wash. 20, you come to Klipchuck (46 campsites) and Early Winters (13 campsites) campgrounds. There are also several campgrounds west of Early Winters on the Harts Pass Road. Harts Pass (5 campsites) and * Meadows (14 campsites), a little bit farther on this rough road, are both at high elevations and provide access to the Pacific Crest Trail.

In the Winthrop area, besides Pearrygin Lake State Park there are also more than half a dozen Forest Service campgrounds on the Chewuch River and Eightmile Creek. Of these, Falls Creek (7 campsites), beside a 75-foot waterfall, and Buck Lake (9 campsites) are two of the best. There are also several campgrounds up the Twisp River Road from Twisp.

Other state and federal camping areas with facilities to accommodate individuals with disabilities include Alta Lake.

Conconully Lake and Reservoir. From Omak, drive 22 miles north on Hwy. 97, the Conconully Highway. Conconully Lake (upper lake) has a wheelchair-accessible fishing dock, but the reservoir is also a great place to fish and is a personal favorite. Conconully State Park is located on the reservoir.The park has 82 tent spaces, four restrooms (one ADA) and four showers (one ADA). All campsites are first-come, first-served. There are some primitive campsites a couple of miles from the main park which are very nice, but not very accessible. There is an RV resort right next to this area with boat rentals. A beautiful location! Explore the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area north of here toward Loomis, which has some great birdwatching in areas such as Blue Lake, which is handicap accessible.

Pearrygin Lake State Park. Located four miles northeast of Winthrop, Wash., in north central Washington. From SR20 south: At the four-way stop in Winthrop, continue through the intersection and follow the main street up a hill, past the ambulance garage and town maintenance shop. Proceed north one-and-a-half miles as the road turns into East Chewuch Rd. Turn right onto Bear Creek Rd. (look for park signs) and continue to the end of the pavement. Turn right and follow road into park.

The park has an accessible Fishing pier near boat launch area and accessible utility camping spots and water. A lot of the standard campsites are right on the water. There are also two resorts on the lake.

This beautiful lake is full of rainbow trout. It also has waterskiing and jet skiing, but the lake is big enough to hold everyone plus they generally are not on the water during the good fishing hours. Trolling works for the spring plants but still fishing at the south end of the lake nets you the big ones. Power bait works best. Pearrygin lake also has good shore fishing but you mostly get spring plants.

Leader Lake Campground (DNR). Start from junction of SR 20 and US 97 in Okanogan. Go W on SR 20 for 8.4 mi. Turn right on Leader Lake Rd (paved, one lane) and go .4 mi to site. The campground has an accessible fishing platform (trout and bass fishing), and accessible camping and restrooms.

Chopaka Lake Campground (DNR). Start at Loomis Grocery. Go N for 2.1 mi. Turn left on Toats Coulee Rd. Go 1.4 mi. Turn right onto a one-lane road and go 3.4 mi. Stay left. Go 1.7 mi. Turn right. Go 2 mi to site. Entry road has one very long, very steep grade and can be extremely rough in April. The road is impassable to some large trailers and recreational vehicles.. This lakeside campground, which has some of the best camp scenery in the county, has an accessible fishing platform near campsite. The campground has 15 sites, accessible restrooms, picnic table, fishing, and partially accessible water. Shade is limited. Expect bass, rainbows (flyfishing only - good luck with dry mayflies). The 149-acre lake has a season of April 27 to Oct. 31. The lake is best fished the first couple months and the last couple months of the season.There is a one-fish catch limit on barbless hooks. The use of all motors is prohibited.

Cold Springs Campground (DNR). Start at Loomis Grocery. Go N for 2.1 mi. Turn left on Toats Coulee Rd. Go 5.6 mi to junction of roads OM-T-2000 and OM-T-1000. Take OM-T-1000 for 2.1 mi. Turn right on Cold Creek Rd (gravel) and go 0.4 mi. Stay right. Go 1.8 mi. Stay left. Go 2.3 mi to camp area. There is a 0.4 mile trail in the campground to a picnic area and viewpoint that may require assistance. Spring water is not potable. Accessible restrooms

Osoyoos Lake State Park. Located 1/4 mile north of Oroville, Wash., near the Canadian border.on Hwy. 97. The park is on the left across from Prince's Department Store, just north of Oroville. Accessible beach access and campground has accessible restrooms, camping, picnic table and water.

Wildlife

Wildlife in the Okanogon forests includes mountain lion, bobcat, an occasional lynx, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and an occasional moose or elk. Mountain goats are common in the higher elevations. You might even be lucky enough to see a Bighorn sheep. A wide variety of song birds, seasonal migrants, and bird of prey call this their home. Several types of grebes, herons and waterfowl such as the Canada Goose, mallard, and American Widgeon are common. Hawks, golden eagles, bald eagles and owls can also be spotted. Grouse, white-tailed ptarmigan, California quail, and ring-necked pheasants are also frequently sighted.

Symbols

	An agency or a trip evaluation has rated all or part of the trail as wheelchair accessible.
	There is some terrain greater than a 5% grade. A wheelchair user may require assistance on portions of this trail. Suitable for power mobility devices.
	No Dogs are allowed on the trail.