Heather - Maple Pass Loop
2 days ago
Vibrant crimson and scarlet undergrowth
14 this month · 121 reports
Big Beaver Trail
North Cascades
updated 2 months ago
The Big Beaver Trail is reported to be in good condition as of July 15, 2026. The trail was snow-free at that time, and the road access was suitable for all vehicles. There were no tree blockages encountered on the trail. However, some sections starting about 2.7 miles in were noted as being a bit overgrown. The parking lot at the Ross Dam trailhead was about 90% full on a Wednesday morning in mid-July.
Generated from 10 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Big Beaver Trail
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 2 months ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
No trip reports on this trail in 2 months, so everything below is at least that old.
The Big Beaver Trail was reported in good condition and snow-free as of July 15, 2026. There were no tree blockages, and the road access was suitable for all vehicles. However, some sections approximately 2.7 miles in were noted as being a bit overgrown.
The most recent report from July 15, 2026 indicates there were no tree blockages encountered on the trail. The trail was described as being in good condition in that regard.
As of July 15, 2026, the parking lot at the Ross Dam trailhead was about 90% full on a Wednesday morning. Parking is easily accessible off Highway 20, but may become full at certain times.
According to a report from July 15, 2026, bugs were not considered to be too bad on the trail.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Older2 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
NOTE: This trip report covers the entirety of the Ross Dam Trail along with the Big Beaver trail up to the trail junction with Sourdough Mountain.We arrived at the Ross Dam trailhead at around 9AM, an...
Older4 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
Done as a day-hike from a base camp at Big Beaver Boat Camp (we canoed in, launching from Diablo Lake Colonial Creek Campground launch, portaged along Ross Dam, and paddled up Ross Lake).We meandered ...
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
Great two-night backpacking trip with our pup. We camped at Green Point the first night and Big Beaver the second. On day two, we hiked about two miles up the Big Beaver Trail and sawlotsof bear scat ...
Older5 months ago
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
We did a quick overnight to Big Beaver Camps, and day hiked up to 39 Mile.Diablo Lake trail is clear.25ish trees down from Ross Dam to Big Beaver camps.60ish trees down from Big Beaver camps to 39 Mil...
North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
The hike is about 7 miles with about 1500 feet of climbing. The steep sections all have switchbacks, so a fairly moderate trail.TrailheadFree Parking! We did get camping permits from the ranger online...
Older16 months ago
North Cascades
Spent 3 nights on the trail. There were a couple of downed trees on the Big Beaver trail just before the turnoff to the Big Beaver camp sites but pretty easy to go over or around. There were a few m...
Older17 months ago
North Cascades
Quick overnight to Big Beaver. SR20 from Winthrop was absolutely spectacular. Trail is in great shape, only one blow down on the way to Big Beaver (about 100 yards past the bridge near mile 5). Saw ma...
Older25 months ago
North Cascades
We took the RL water taxi to Big Beaver and camped at the campground. One day we hiked up the BB trail 3-4 miles and back and that was great. However, the Big Beaver campground was infested with wasps...
Older26 months ago
North Cascades
Hiked Big Beaver & Little Beaver trails over 3 days, starting at the Ross Dam Trailhead and ending at the Little Beaver boat camp. Campsites were at 39 mile, Stilwell and Little Beaver Boat Dock. The ...
Older26 months ago
North Cascades
Since we canoed in, this really only addresses the final section of the trail from the campground / Ross Lake. I’m eager to backpack this trail now.But it sure was a lovely section! Trail was in grea...