Day 1: Iron Gate Trailhead to Horseshoe Basin

Distance: 7mi
Elevation Gain / Loss: +1586′ / -597′

This hike begins at the very nice Iron Gate Trailhead. There aren’t too many trailheads that I’d stop and take note of, but this is one of them. Don’t you love that trailhead sign! Note the dedication to Trygve Culp by the BCHW. That’s the Back Country Horsemen of Washington, of which Tryve was the president at one time. This trailhead is popular amongst the horse riders. On my trip I encountered a couple, on their way out, both riding with a mule in tow carrying their camp gear.

Great Trailhead Sign!

All the way to the basin you will be following Boundary Trail, much of which is what remains of an old mining road. The first 1.5 miles or so is mostly flat, through pretty sparse stands of trees. There won’t be any real sun cover on this trip, so prepare accordingly.  As you continue along, you’ll be seeing the standing reminders of the fires along. It’s refreshing to see the young pines finally emerging.

Pines Returning

At about 1.5 miles or so you will cross Clutch Creek. Not particularly notable other than a good source for filling up water as there aren’t really any other options until you get into the basin.

Keep an eye out for wildlife, it can be surprising plentiful and the lack of thick tree cover and undergrowth can sometimes make it easier to spot. The area is known to have deer,  The dusty trails are pretty good for tracking as well. Here you see several deer track impressions (as well as a horse).

From about mile mark 1.5 you’ll begin a gradual ascent, rising 1,200′ over ~3.25 miles, until you reach the highpoint of the high at Sunny Pass.  There are several trails that converge here, but the signage is good.  You’ll head to the east (right) and then in a short distance turn left (north) staying on Boundary Trail the entire time.

In short order you will reach Horseshoe Basin.  At around the 6 miles in there will be an area of intersecting trails and a few potential campsites. You will see a small trail heading east towards Smith Lake. Going down that trail will reveal another spot or two and following it all the way to the end, maybe 3/4 of a mile, will yield a large camping area near the lake. It appears to be a very popular location, suitable for a group or for spreading out.

If you prefer a bit more solitude, continue along the Boundary Trail just a bit farther as it bends to the West.  About 1/4 of mile past the trail to Smith Lake you will cross a reliable stream. Make note of this as it is probably your best source of water here. I always prefer running water over the small lakes, some of which will just be standing water in the later summer.  Over the next 1/2 mile or so keep your eyes peeled to the North (the right side of the trail). There are a few hidden camp spots tucked amongst the trees. There will be no obvious trails. From my CalTop map you can get a very good sense of where I camped. A little higher up I later discovered a wonderful site completely tucked into the trees, so it may be worth your time to explore a bit before settling on a spot.  Eventually you reach Loudon Lake, where you may also find a couple of suitable spots.

Once you’ve found your spot, sit back and soak in those majestic views.  Relax for a while as you look forward to tomorrow and a romp up to the Canada-US Border!

Soaking in the views!

Full Day 1 Gallery Below. Click on any photo to enlarge and scroll through full size versions.

Day 2: Armstrong Scramble to Canada-US Border

Distance: 3.97mi
Elevation Gain / Loss: +1168/-1173

Today is a great day for a Wilder Romp! There are so many peaks worth exploring here and most of them fairly easy scrambles.  Amstrong though is the real attraction simply because it gives you an opportunity to see the border.  There is no defined trail, but the hiking is pretty easy with no real need to bushwhack as the vegetation is all quite low. I would recommend taking a close look at my CalTopo track over in the Details section (click on it to open up the map directly on CalTop).  I hiked in a counter-clockwise fashion, heading up the ridge and then back down a bit more to the west. I would suggest sticking to the ridge and backtracking down the same way you came up. My route down was not difficult, but it is the path that water flows off the mountain and so there are areas with more vegetation and there are some spots requiring a bit more scrambling.

As you amble along, take in the sights and remember to occasionally look back. The views are amazing!  This shot is taken about 800′ above camp, looking back on Rock Mountain.  You can also see how low Loudon Lake was.

As you reach the top there will be a small cairn marking the precise peak at 8,139′, as you can see in this next photo.  This is also pretty representative of a good bit of the terrain as you approach the top. It’s all very manageable, but do mind your footing. Head towards the cairn and from there, you should then be able to see Monument 104.

Cairn Marking Peak of Armstrong

About Those Monuments

Officially, the border is called the International Boundary and is the longest border between two countries.  3,145 miles of it is over land and the way is marked by these boundary monuments.  Mandated by  treaty, a 20′ path, called the “boundary vista” is cut through more than 1,300 miles of forest, establishing an actual physical presentation of the border, an otherwise imaginary geo-political construct.  The monuments are not evenly spaced. Rather, they are spaced based upon the lay of the land and sighting distances between them. In all there are 5,528 of them. And they don’t all look the same. Most are obelisk shaped, but some are steel, some are cut stone.  The two that you’ll see on this hike are typical for remote locations and made of sheet steel.

Monument 104

Take your time exploring, have some lunch, take a nap. The views are amazing and you’ll likely have the opportunity to gaze upon some raptors as they ride the currents and survey the land.  As you look around, take a look at the view to the east where you’ll be able to see that “boundary vista” very clearly. It really is something when you consider what it must take to maintain that border in such rugged country.

This is a great opportunity, by the way, to practice some orienting skills with your map and compass. The views are wide open and the mountains very identifiable. In fact, you won’t find a better place to practice following a bearing.  So set your compass for 270 degrees, or due West, and head on over to monument 103.

As you get back to camp, if you have time, it might be worth exploring the lakes if you have not already. To the West of Loudon Lake you can also follow the Boundary Trail to some additional nice views.