Mountaineering · YDS Class 3-4

Southwest Spur

Distance RT
22.0 mi
Gain
5,200 ft
High Point
8,691 ft
Permit Required

A self-issue wilderness permit for the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness and a Northwest Forest Pass for trailhead parking are the applicable requirements; no quota or reservation system applies.

Route Description

The second-highest peak in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, climbed via a long approach through the Sawtooth Range's larch-lined basins and lakes.

Approach

Drive up the Twisp River Road, then Buttermilk Creek Road and West Fork Buttermilk Creek Road to the West Fork Buttermilk Creek Trailhead (about 4,000 feet). Hike the West Fork Trail roughly 8.7 miles to Fish Creek Pass (7,480 feet), then descend to just past Star Lake, a good camping spot, and pick up the Summit Trail. From near Star Lake, hike about half a mile up to a pass (7,400 feet) southwest of Star Peak. From the pass, ascend the secondary southwest spur ridge, traverse east around a minor ridge, then head north onto the main southwest spur. Scramble broken rock and talus up to the summit ridge, then climb east up the summit pyramid to the top.

Descent

Descend the southwest spur back to the pass and Star Lake camp by the ascent route.

Weather Forecast
5-Day Air Quality Forecast
Today
56
Moderate
Tomorrow
42
Good
Sun, Sep 27
64
Moderate
Mon, Sep 28
90
Moderate
Tue, Sep 29
83
Moderate
PM2.5 wildfire smoke threshold: 35 μg/m³ · Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo
7-Day Forecast
Today
❄️
Snow
34° / 20°
99%
❄ 0.5"
💨30
Tomorrow
❄️
Snow
31° / 18°
16%
❄ 0.4"
💨22
Sun, Sep 27
☁️
Overcast
42° / 21°
💨5
Mon, Sep 28
☁️
Overcast
45° / 18°
6%
💨6
Tue, Sep 29
🌧️
Drizzle
33° / 25°
41%
💧0.06"
💨6
Wed, Sep 30
🌤️
Partly Cloudy
36° / 14°
32%
💨7
Thu, Oct 1
☁️
Overcast
39° / 15°
20%
💨6
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