A backpacker stands in a grassy meadow overlooking Jackita Ridge while hiking the Skagit King Circuit trail around Jack Mountain
Jackita Ridge viewed from trail during Skagit King High Circuit

Skagit King High Circuit + Bear Skull Peak + Devils Dome + Daemon Peak (Upper Skagit Mountains, WA)

Trip Date: August 29 – September 1, 2014

Skagit King High Circuit:  Ross Lake to Devil’s Pass to Canyon Creek

Ross Lake
Devil’s Junction Landing
Dry Creek Pass
Bear Skull Basin
Bear Skull Peak (7330’)
Devil’s Dome / Lookout (6982′)
Devil’s Pass
Daemon Peak
aka Cinnamon Peak (7514’)
Jackita Basin
Devil’s Park
McMillan Park

Trip Report Summary

Region: Northeastern Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: Upper Skagit Mountains

Areas: Ross Lake National Recreation Area & Pasayten Wilderness

Primary Starting Point: Ross Dam Trailhead on Highway 20 (Elev. 2150 feet)

Secondary Starting Point: Devil’s Dome Trailhead at Devil’s Junction Landing on Ross Lake (Elev. 1600 feet)

Way Points: Ross Lake Landing (trail hike);  Ross Lake & Devil’s Junction Landing (boat ride);  Devil’s Ridge & Dry Creek Pass & Bear Skull Basin & Devil’s Dome Lookout/summit & Devil’s Pass & North Fork Devil’s Creek & Jackita Pass & Jackita Basin & Devil’s Park & McMillan Park & Canyon Creek & Granite Creek (trail hike)

High Point: Devil’s Dome (Elev. 6982 feet)

Ending Point: Canyon Creek Trailhead on Highway 20 (Elev. 1900 feet)

Campsites: Devil’s Junction Camp & Bear Skull Basin & Jackita Basin

Summit: Bear Skull Peak (off-trail hike & rock scramble via South Slope—East Ridge)

Summit: Devil’s Dome (hike via Devil’s Dome Trail)

Sidetrip: North Fork Canyon Creek (trail hike)

Summit: Daemon Peak (off-trail hike & rock scramble via South Slope—Southeast Ridge)

Approximate Stats (excluding sidetrips): 27 miles traveled; 8800 feet gained; 9050 feet lost.

Approximate Stats (including sidetrips): 32 miles traveled; 11,600 feet gained; 11,850 feet lost.

Full Trip Report

For our Labor Day Weekend trip this year, Eileen and I did the classic trail circuit around Jack Mountain, which has long been known as “King of the Skagit.”  We didn’t have time for the full 360-degree Skagit King Circuit that begins and ends at the same place, so we completed just the high-elevation part of the trail in order to experience the scenic climaxes.  Our Skagit King High Circuit started at Devil’s Junction on Ross Lake and ended at Canyon Creek Trailhead on Highway 20.  Fay, Doug, and Tiffany eagerly joined us, although on slightly different schedules. We had plenty of company on our circuit—this is a very popular trek—but plenty of solitude too.

Day 0: Ross Dam Trailhead to Devil’s Junction Camp

This was primarily just a staging day for us. Eileen and I met Fay at the Ross Dam Trailhead at 3:45pm and quickly shuttled Fay’s car up to the Canyon Creek Trailhead. Then we hiked down to Ross Lake (carrying grocery sacks and a bundle of firewood in our arms) and rode a water taxi launch up to Devil’s Junction. Camp 0 was established on a rocky bench 100 feet above Ross Lake. Fay had gotten the last available permit for Devil’s Junction Camps, and it was a good thing she did; soon after our tents were pitched, a friendly park ranger stopped by to check our permit. The night was overcast but very warm…and pretty much bug free.

Hiker's camp on slab with grass at Devils Junction overlooking Ross Lake at the start of the Jack Mountain High Circuit
Camp 0 At Devils Junction Above Ross Lake

Day 1: Devil’s Junction Camp to Bear Skull Basin + Bear Skull Peak

We left camp at 8:30am and headed up the Devil’s Dome Trail. Aside from a few brief rain sprinkles in the morning, the day was mostly warm and sunny. Even Jack Mountain—always a cloud magnet—exposed itself for a short while.

Skagit King, Jack Mountain with high clouds as seen from Devils Dome Trail circuit
Jack Mountain—King of the Skagit—From Devils Dome Trail

We crossed through Dry Creek Pass in the early afternoon and continued another mile to 6400-foot Bear Skull Basin (5.7 hours from Camp 0) on the western flank of Devil’s Dome. This multi-level basin provides nice camping and reliable water, as well as views out to the west. A party of four arrived about an hour later and made camp in the next level above us. We would spend the rest of the trip leap-frogging them.

backpacker hiking Jack Mountain circuit trail into Bear Skull Basin
Hiking Into Bear Skull Basin
backpacker's camp in Bear Skull Basin on the Jack Mountain circuit in the Upper Skagit Mountains with green grass and evergreen trees in the distance
Camp 1 In Bear Skull Basin

After setting up Camp 1 in the basin, Fay and Eileen and I headed up Bear Skull Peak (Point 7330) for afternoon views. It was cold, breezy, and mostly cloudy, but we managed to gain a good look at Devil’s Dome and Daemon Peak—our goals for the next day.

hiker descending grass slope with Devils Dome on the Jack Mountain circuit in the Upper Skagit Mountains in the distance
Devils Dome From Bear Skull Peak
sunsine through the high clouds on Daemon Peak in the Skagit Mountains as seen the Jack Mountain High Circuit
Daemon Peak From Bear Skull Peak

Doug and Tiffany were waiting in camp when we returned to Bear Skull Basin. They had ridden the 11:00am water taxi to Devil’s Junction and had made good time hiking up the trail. Later that evening, as we were finishing dinner, a chilly fog wafted into camp. It was quite a change from the previous warm night at Ross Lake.

Day 2: Bear Skull Basin to Jackita Basin + Daemon Peak

A steady rain pelted our tents throughout the early morning hours, but as if right on queue, it stopped a few moments before we arose at 7:00am. Miraculously, we never had another drop of rain for the rest of our trip. The lingering morning fog added an eerie mood to the alpine tundra as we hiked over Devil’s Dome—a former lookout site and the high point of our entire circuit—then down to Devil’s Pass.

morning fog with high grasses and evergreen trees on the Jack Mountain High Circuit trail
Morning Fog Below Devils Dome

We arrived at Devil’s Pass in late morning (2.2 hours from Camp 1) and stashed backpacks in the trees, then hurried northeasterly on the trail leading toward Sky Pilot Pass. Our goal was to climb 7514-foot Daemon Peak.

Devil's Pass on the Jack Mountain High Circuit Trail in the Upper Skagit Mountains sits on the ground ina green field
Devils Pass Trail Sign

Upon reaching an obvious basin at the head of North Fork Canyon Creek (due south of Daemon Peak), we headed up grassy slopes and brecciated talus toward the false summit. A fun little Class 2 ridgeline then led us to the summit of this rarely climbed peak.

backpackers hiking up heather basin under Daemon Peak on the Jack Mountain Circuit in the Upper Skagit Mountains
Heading Up Daemon Peak On Day 2
hiker on Daemon Peak rocky ridge near the summit of Daemon Peak in the Upper Skagit Mountains surrounded by fog
Fay Parting Clouds On Daemon Peak Summit

Although Henry Custer climbed this prominent peak on Labor Day Weekend of 1859 (presumably, he had the day off work), it has gone over 150 years without an official name. Fred Beckey refers to it as “Cinnamon Creek Peak,” but Fay soundly rejects this moniker. She left a register titled “Daemon Peak,” which apparently is the accepted peak-bagger’s name. Don’t even try calling this “Cinnamon Peak”!

hikers taking a break on the rock summit of Daemon Peak in the Upper Skagit Mountains
Doug, Tiffany, Fay, and Eileen On Daemon Peak

Once back at Devil’s Pass, Fay set up her tent in preparation for her next few days of peak-bagging. The rest of us packed up and headed south on the main trail. We dropped into North Fork Devil’s Creek (a good water source), then climbed over 6200-foot Jackita Pass on a rudely steep, brushy trail before dropping another 400 feet into Jackita Basin below Jackita Ridge. We established Camp 2 in this attractive meadowy basin (10.2 hours from Camp 1), near a little stream. Evening sun pierced the cloudcover and highlighted various features around us, including Jackita Peak and Crater Mountain.

Evening Sun On Jackita Ridge on the Jack Mountain High Circuit in the Upper Skagit Mountains
Evening Sun On Jackita Ridge
Sun On Jerry Glacier and Jerry Lakes in the Upper Skagit Mountains with a cloudy sky
Sun On Jerry Glacier and Jerry Lakes

Day 3: Jackita Basin to Canyon Creek Trailhead

We awoke to patchy blue skies and mild temps. Our hiking route took us on an up-and-down traverse below Jackita Ridge, across a combination of scenic meadowy slopes and scree fields.

Backpacker hiking the Jack Mountain Circuit trail running below Jackita Ridge in the Upper Skagit Mountains
Hiking Below Jackita Ridge On Day 3
backpackers hiking the Jack Mountain High Circuit trail around the Head Of Devils Creek Valley filled with heather and low grass
Traversing Around Head Of Devils Creek Valley

Before long, we started descending into the gorgeous grassland of Devil’s Park. This sweeping green plateau rivals Grand Park at Mt. Rainier and The Parks of the Chuchuwanteen in its plea for a day of wandering. We had to be contented with a lazy lunch in the sun here.

looking down into Devils Park in the Upper Skagit Mountains with the Jack Mountain High Circuit Trail with fall colored grasses in the foreground
Descending Into Devils Park

On our hike out of Devil’s Park, we stopped at the old trailside shelter. It seems to be in good condition even after many decades of hosting wet hikers on rainy nights.

backpackers standing at Devils Park shelter in the Upper Skagit Mountains on the Jack Mountains Circuit Trail with meadow grasses and evergreen trees
Devils Park Shelter

We crossed through McMillan Park and arrived at the Canyon Creek TH around 4:00pm (6.9 hours from Camp 2), where Tiffany’s car was waiting. It had been an immensely satisfying and enjoyable loop hike—leaving no doubt why this has become such a popular trek. Someday, we hope to complete the full 360-degree Skagit King Circuit. The burning question then becomes: which direction to go?

Route Map & Profile

Skagit King High Circuit 2014 Route Map (CalTopo)

Skagit King High Circuit 2014 Route Profile

Click to enlarge…