Mountaineering · YDS Class 2-3

Aasgard Pass

High Point
8,842 ft
Trailhead
Stuart Lake Trailhead
2,999 ft elevation
Permit Required

Day use requires only a self-issue Alpine Lakes Wilderness permit at the trailhead and a Northwest Forest Pass for parking. Overnight camping anywhere in the Core Enchantment Permit Area requires a separate permit obtained through a competitive lottery that opens in February, or a limited number of same-day walk-up permits from the Leavenworth Ranger Station; many climbers do this as a long single day specifically to avoid the overnight permit process.

Route Description

The non-technical walk-up route to the second-highest peak in the Stuart Range, climbed via the notoriously steep Aasgard Pass rather than the technical rock routes on Dragontail's north face.

Approach

Approach as for Colchuck Peak: drive to the Stuart Lake Trailhead and hike to Colchuck Lake (about 4.5 miles, 2,000 feet of gain). Follow the boot path around the west and south shore of the lake to the base of Aasgard Pass. Climb the broad, steep slope to Aasgard Pass (7,800-7,841 feet); if snow-covered, this is real avalanche terrain and route choice matters, while a climbers' trail with cairns exists in the scree on the left side once snow-free. From the pass, ascend southwest up the slope to a saddle at about 8,500 feet, then head northwest roughly 300 feet to the summit, a small bedrock outcrop that drops off sharply to the north.

Descent

Descend southeast from the summit to the 8,500-foot saddle, then down a long snow slope back to Aasgard Pass and Colchuck Lake. Route-finding on the descent from the pass can be tricky; stay center-left near the top to avoid cliff bands, then move to the right side of the gully below them.

Weather Forecast
7-Day Forecast
Today
☁️
Overcast
42° / 31°
6%
💨17
Tomorrow
❄️
Snow
34° / 21°
87%
3.9"
💨26
Sat, Sep 26
☁️
Overcast
38° / 15°
29%
💨8
Sun, Sep 27
☁️
Overcast
41° / 21°
💨7
Mon, Sep 28
❄️
Snow
32° / 18°
4%
💧0.07"
💨7
Tue, Sep 29
🌨️
Rain
29° / 23°
30%
💧0.34"
💨9
Wed, Sep 30
☁️
Overcast
33° / 16°
21%
💨9
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