Originally Posted: March 2022
Updated: January 2024

Keechelus Ridge Ski Loop: Cabin Creek to Noble Creek Overlook to Resort Creek Overlook to Cabin Creek

Cabin Creek Nordic Ski Area
Noble Creek Overlook
Keechelus Tower Knoll aka Microwave Hill (4960’+)
Resort Creek Overlook
Resort Creek Pond

Route Summary

Region: Central Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: Keechelus Mountains

Area: Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest

Starting & Ending Point: Cabin Creek nordic ski area trailhead at Exit 63 on Interstate-90 (Elev. 2450 feet)

Way Points: Swamp Lake Flats & Kachess Lake Road 49 crossing & Keechelus Ridge Roadhead 4934 & Road 118 junction & Noble Creek Overlook & Road 122/124 junction & Gale Creek Road 4948 junction & Resort Creek Overlook & Resort Creek Road 4832 junction & Resort Creek Pond & Resort Creek culvert & Price Creek & Noble Creek & North Fork Swamp Creek & Kachess Lake Road 49 junction (ski tour via Road 4826—Road 4934—Road 4832);  Cabin Creek Road 4826 junction (road walk via Road 49);  Swamp Lake Flats & Cabin Creek nordic ski trailhead (ski tour via Road 4826) 

High Point: Junction of Keechelus Ridge Road 4934 & Gale Creek Road 4948 (Elev. 4450 feet)

Optional Sidetrip: Keechelus Tower Knoll (ski tour via Road 124—Road 126)

Approximate Stats (full loop only): 18.5 miles traveled; 2300 feet gained & lost.

Approximate Stats (full loop + sidetrip): 20.8 miles traveled; 2950 feet gained & lost.

Typical Season: late December thru mid April

Related Posts

>>> Dungeon Point Ski Ascent & Rocky Run Ski Loop – detailed route description

>>> Keechelus Ridge Ski Loop + Tower Knoll + Keechelus Pass – February 28, 2020

Information Sources

The following links provide helpful information for planning this ski tour. Even these information sources, however, should not be taken as a substitute for having the fitness, knowledge, equipment, and clothing required for ski touring.

>>> WSDOT road reports for Interstate-90 and Snoqualmie Pass

>>> National Weather Service weather forecast for Snoqualmie Pass area

>>> Northwest Avalanche Center avalanche forecast for Snoqualmie Pass area

>>> Other easy to intermediate ski tours in the I-90 / Snoqualmie Pass corridor

Route Overview

The Keechelus Ridge Ski Loop is a long, seldom-done, highly rewarding cross-country/backcountry (XC/BC) hybrid ski tour in the Snoqualmie Pass area. It involves 13 miles of groomed forest road, 4½ miles of ungroomed forest road, and 1 mile of paved road. All together, these roads form a large oval on the western flank of Keechelus Ridge, which extends roughly parallel to Interstate-90. Anyone completing the full loop will likely come away feeling surprised that such a grand XC/BC ski tour exists at such a readily accessible location.

Two important considerations when preparing for the Keechelus Ridge Ski Loop are timing and direction. Because most of the loop is frequented by snowmobilers, the tour is best done on a weekday. It can be done on a weekend or holiday if necessary, but you will likely encounter a lot of high-speed snowmobiles along the way. As for direction, I recommend traveling counter-clockwise because this allows you to ascend the ungroomed—and often badly rutted—road on the southern part of Keechelus Ridge and then descend the groomed road on the northern part.

Most of the ski loop passes through deep forest, but there are two notable viewpoints along the way. The first is Noble Creek Overlook, on the southern part of Keechelus Ridge. The second is Resort Creek Overlook, on the northern part of the ridge. Both overlooks provide a nice southwesterly view across Keechelus Lake toward the Iron Horse Mountains. Ambitious skiers also get an opportunity to take a sidetrip up Keechelus Tower Knoll for a northerly view into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

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Parking Comments

The route described herein begins and ends at the Cabin Creek nordic ski area, which is located at Exit 63 on Interstate-90. I prefer this starting point because the adjacent Cabin Creek Sno-Park is both safe and reliable. Be aware, however, that this parking lot fills up quickly on weekends and holidays, so plan to arrive early during the high season in order to get a parking spot. Furthermore, a Washington State Sno-Park permit with a “special groomed-area sticker” is required to park here.

A possible alternative parking site is the southern terminus of Resort Creek Road #4832 adjacent to Kachess Lake Road #49. This informal parking site is located approximately 1 mile east of Interstate-90 at Exit 62. The advantages of parking here are that (1) it reduces the total skiing distance by about 3 miles and (2) no Sno-Park permit is needed. The disadvantages are that it is small, rudimentary, and unreliable; sometimes there is room for several cars, but other times there is no room at all. If you do park here, maintain a clear path for groomer access.

Route Description

Detailed route descriptions for the full loop and the tower knoll sidetrip are presented in the following sections.

Full Keechelus Ridge Loop

Starting at the Cabin Creek nordic ski area trailhead, proceed northward through the ski area on the gently undulating and well-groomed nordic trail. In 1½ miles, the groomed trail ends at Kachess Lake Road #49, a two-lane paved roadway. Walk diagonally across the paved roadway to reach the beginning of Keechelus Ridge Road #4934. Note: If you parked at the alternative parking site mentioned above, then you will need to walk 1 mile eastward on Road #49 to reach this point.

Under ideal snow conditions, it is possible to ascend Keechelus Ridge Road #4934 using just fishscale-base skis, but I find it more efficient to use climbing skins on my skis in all conditions. Either way, continue up the ungroomed road as it first heads north and then curves to the west. The inclination soon increases, and the road steadily gains elevation via multiple switchbacks. Unmarked Spur Road #118, which branches off to the right at a tight switchback, marks the approximate midpoint of your ascent.

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After several more switchbacks, the road makes a long, rising traverse across a steep, barren hillside. Take a pause at Noble Creek Overlook, a small promontory on this hillside, to gander at Stampede Pass, Meadow Mountain, Yakima Pass, Tinkham Peak, and Silver Peak across the valley.

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The road soon re-enters deep forest and, in another mile, flattens out at a four-way junction (6.0 miles + 2000 feet from Cabin Creek TH). This junction marks the end of your long ascent, so it is a good spot to remove your climbing skins. Price Creek Road #124 (never groomed) goes down to the left, and although this might appear to be a feasible shortcut to reach Resort Creek Road #4832 far below, the gradient is uncomfortably steep under most conditions. Tower Road #122 (usually groomed) goes up to the right toward Keechelus Tower Knoll.

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North of the four-way junction, Keechelus Ridge Road #4934 is regularly groomed for snowmobile traffic. It begins with a level traverse across the hillslope for 1 mile, which feels almost effortless after grinding out the long ascent on the ungroomed road. Mt. Margaret and Rampart Ridge come into view straight ahead.

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The level traverse ends at a “T” intersection with Gale Creek Road #4948. Keechelus Pass is located a short 250 yards up to the right, and it serves as the main snowmobile route to Kachess Lake but does not offer a worthwhile view. Instead, turn left and begin your well-earned descent to Resort Creek Pond—after making one more short ascent, that is.

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When freshly groomed, the road provides a very fast and fun descent; when churned up by snowmobile traffic, however, it can be a tad slow and/or challenging. Regardless, be sure to stop at Resort Creek Overlook, which sits on a prominent spur ridge at a sweeping curve in the road. Tinkham Peak, Abiel Peak, and Silver Peak—the “Iron Horse Triplets”—can be seen to the west.

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Continuing downhill, you will pass the Lake Lillian / Margaret Lake Trailhead shortly before reaching an oblique intersection with Resort Creek Road #4832 (10.6 miles + 2100 feet from Cabin Creek TH). The road straight ahead leads down to South Gold Creek Sno-Park, which could potentially be used as a bail-out route. To complete the ski loop, turn sharply back to the left and make a gradual climb over a small hill, skirting around Resort Creek Pond.

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Just beyond Resort Creek Pond, the road angles downhill for a mile to Resort Creek, then abruptly flattens out as it passes a concrete pumphouse. From here, the road makes a 4-mile-long, gently undulating traverse across the lower flank of Keechelus Ridge, always keeping parallel to—and within earshot of—Interstate-90.

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The long traverse ends with a descent to Kachess Lake Road #49 (16.0 miles + 2250 feet from Cabin Creek TH). If you have a car parked here, your ski loop is over. If your car is parked at Cabin Creek Sno-Park, remove your skis and start walking eastward (left) on the paved road.

After 1 mile of walking, look for Cabin Creek Road #4826 over the snowbank on your right. This marks the closure point of the full loop, and you now have only a 1½-mile kick-and-glide back along a groomed ski trail to reach your starting trailhead (18.5 miles + 2300 feet for total loop). By now, most of the cross-country skiers have gone home, leaving you with a private sunset over Swamp Lake Flats.

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Keechelus Tower Knoll Sidetrip

A sidetrip to Keechelus Tower Knoll (aka Microwave Hill) is highly recommended for loop skiers who have extra time and energy. From the four-way junction high on Keechelus Ridge, go uphill on Tower Road #122, which is usually groomed. In about ⅓ mile, turn left and proceed northward for another ⅓ mile, then turn right and make the final ascent to the broad 4960-foot summit (1.2 miles + 650 feet from four-way junction).

A tall radio tower stood atop this knoll for many decades but was removed in 2019. By moving around the summit dome, you can get views of Kachess Lake and the rolling Kachess Mountains to the east, as well as the jagged Snoqualmie Mountains to the north. Heavily forested Keechelus Peak rises up closely to the south.

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Equipment Comments

For this ski loop, I recommend using medium-width, fishscale-base, backcountry nordic touring skis or XC/BC hybrid nordic touring skis, mounted with either 75-mm bindings or NNN-BC bindings. These should be combined with compatible nordic touring boots. Although not essential, I also recommend using either partial or full-length climbing skins for the long ascent of the southern ridge, as well as adjustable ski poles to maximize touring efficiency over the varied terrain.  In addition, a backpack with a good ski-carry system makes the 1-mile road walk much more convenient.

For more information regarding the specialized equipment that I use for this particular trip and that I typically use for other trips of this type, see my gear discussions and reviews on the following pages:

>>> XC/BC Hybrid Nordic Ski Touring Gear

>>> Backcountry Nordic Ski Touring Gear

>>> Backcountry Ski & Snowshoe Packs

>>>  Wintertime Comfort Accessories

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Route Maps & Profile

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Photo Gallery

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