A short, easily accessed series of trails near Mission Ridge, this loop offers Wenatchee residents a good exercise fix, a quiet place to unwind, nice views out over the Columbia River, and a very restful wander through mixed forests of firs and larches. While part of the trail is well used (the trunk that goes to Clara Lake) you are unlikely to see others on the Pipeline and Squilchuck trails. This is a pleasant hike or ride any time of year but October, when the larches change, is particularly gorgeous. The route is used most by hikers but is also good ride for intermediate and advanced mountain bikers (you'll want to do the loop in a counterclockwise direction so you ride down the trail from Clara Lake to Mission Ridge).

Maps: USGS 7.5-minute series: Mission Peak, WA. View our topo map (print as 8.5"x11” portrait mode). Note: use ‘Print Preview’ before printing to properly scale this map to a full sheet of paper.

Activity: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Trail running.

Nearest Town: Wenatchee
Skill Level: 2
Fitness Level: 2
Distance: About 6.5 to 7 miles
Elevation: Start: 4,560'. High: 6,000'. Gain 1,050 feet.

Access:

• From the Park and Ride on Mission Street at Lincoln Park, drive 11.5 miles to the Mission Ridge Ski Area. About 100 yards before entering the ski area’s lower parking lot, park in the pullout on the left side of the road. The trailhead is about 50 yards closer to the ski area on the right side of the road. 
• An alternate access is to drive toward the Mission Ridge Ski Area and, 1 mile after Squilchuck State Park (about 8 miles from Wenatchee), turn right on the Beehive Road (FS Road 9712). Follow this road 4.3 miles to the Upper Devils Gulch Trailhead (pay close attention to the mileage because signage is poor). From this trailhead, you can jump onto the Pipeline Trail and head back toward Mission Ridge (this will have you doing the loop in a clockwise direction). Or you can walk/ride up the Road 9712 about a mile and then take the Squilchuck Trail over to Clara Lake (which will have you doing the loop in a counter-clockwise direction).

Trip Instructions: 

• From the trailhead at the ski area, walk/ride uphill toward Clara/Marion lakes. After 10 or 15 minutes of steady walking, the trail will intersect a narrow road bed. This road is called the Pipeline Trail by some, the Pipeline Road by others. Going left will take you to the ski area, going straight across and up takes you to Clara/Marion Lakes. You, however, are going to turn right – which takes you toward Devil’s Gulch.
• Follow Pipeline Rd toward Devil’s Gulch for about 50 minutes of steady walking. This trail basically contours through the forests and offers an occasional view down toward Wenatchee and the Columbia River. After about two miles, the road intersects the Beehive Reservoir Road (Rd 9712). There is no signage identifying the road or where you are but, if you go straight across the road, you’ll enter the upper trailhead for the Devil’s Gulch Trail.
• Turn left and head uphill on Road 9712 for one mile (about a half hour of steady walking). A few spur roads on the left and right will be passed.
• Pay attention for the place where the road makes a major jog to the right and changes from traveling in a southerly direction to traveling west. There is a wide spot along the left shoulder that can accommodate three or four cars. To the left of the road there are big slopes of talus. There is no signage here but this is where the Squilchuck Trail intersects the road. Turn left off the road and find the trail.
• The Squilchuck Trail climbs for about 150 vertical feet then mainly undulates through talus fields and larch glades as it traverses back toward the Mission Ridge Ski Area.
• In about a mile (30 minutes of steady walking) the trail comes to a T intersection. (Turning right takes you on a short, side trip to Clara and Marion lakes). Go left and start heading downhill to the car.
• In another mile (20 minutes of steady walking), you’ll intersect the Pipeline Road again. You’ve been here before. Go straight across the road and follow the trail downhill to the parking lot. 

Road Condition Update (Summer 2008): 
The paved road to Mission Ridge has been closed several miles before the ski area (one mile uphill from Squilchuck State Park). That means the best way to access the hike is to turn right on the Beehive Road (a gravel road) one mile past Squilchuck State Park and to follow this road 4.3 miles to the Upper Devils Gulch Trailhead (pay close attendtion to the mileage because signage is poor).

Cons/Hazards: The route is not well signed but it is not difficult to follow if you pay close attention to our instructions and the map.
Land Designation: Combination of Forest Service and State Wildlife lands
Fees/Permits: None  

Leave It Better Than You Found It: This should be every outdoor user’s goal. Pick up trash left by others, pull noxious weeds along your route, disperse old fire rings (they encourage more fires), throw branches over spur trails and spurs between switchbacks (make it harder to do the wrong thing than the right thing).

Important Disclaimer: Treat this information as recommendations, not gospel. Things change, conditions change, and those contributing these reports are volunteers--they may make mistakes, fail to give complete information, or may not know all the issues affecting a route. If things go wrong, you are completely responsible for yourself and your actions. If you can’t live with that, you are prohibited from using our information.