camping on the Northern Tier

[eorogers]

The PCT crosses Hwy 20 at Rainy Pass.  There is an outhouse at the pullout (on North side of road - not visible from the road) and an flat spot the PCT hikers use as dispersed camping right below.  No water, but a safe place.  I spent the night there in 2019 :-)

Eric

[sbwaxman]

Thank you, Eric!

[BikeliciousBabe]

If you are considering camping at nearly 4,900' in the North Cascades in early June be prepared for some "weather."  The passes were scheduled to open this year on May 10th.  There was more snow than usual later in the season.  It might be difficult to pull off the road and/or to find a place to pitch a tent that is not still covered with snow.  Here is what they are calling for this weekend at Washington Pass:

https://methownet.com/weather_washpass.php

[sbwaxman]

Ooh, thanks for the link! I am not planning to wild camp if at all possible, but this is super helpful nonetheless.

[sbwaxman]

Hi all, just a belated note that Colonial Creek does have a hiker/biker site!

[sbwaxman]

Hi all,

Back just to say I rode the NT! Thanks for all your help as I prepared for it. I'm posting my blog and spreadsheet here in case it's helpful for future folks looking for NT information.

Blog:https://sbw.bike/
Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Gx9aUFyEwYXa2m6Caq3J_KNiBBhSvsAoYrOkx6HLbzA/edit?usp=sharing

Sarah

[jwrushman]

I enjoyed reading your blog. just curious why you decided to ride the older northern tier route to Wolf Point Montana from cut Bank?

[sbwaxman]

Thanks for reading!

I took US 2 because there was a large construction project on the new mapped route and amenities were scarcer there as well. I talked to/read blogs of some folks who did it the mapped route, and it went fine—they were ferried across on the pilot truck. It ended mid-summer, I believe, so not really a concern anymore. But also the traffic from fracking has dwindled to nearly nothing, and US 2 was fine and a good alternative in that regard.

[BikeliciousBabe]

Hi all,

Back just to say I rode the NT! Thanks for all your help as I prepared for it. I'm posting my blog and spreadsheet here in case it's helpful for future folks looking for NT information.

Blog:https://sbw.bike/
Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Gx9aUFyEwYXa2m6Caq3J_KNiBBhSvsAoYrOkx6HLbzA/edit?usp=sharing

Sarah

I see you stayed at Dorr Skeels near Troy, MT.  Great choice!  I stayed there in 2017 during a two-week loop tour from/to Missoula.  I got the site closest to the lake and day use picnic table.  Terrific view, especially with the sunset on the solstice.  The place had wood for sale so I was able to have a campfire.  The host told me a bear had been hanging around the woods between the campground and the highway for a couple of days but had not yet come into camp.  It's small.  Only 6 sites, IIRC, and all but 2 are walk-ins.  That's actually an advantage.  It was so quiet there.  Did you see any sheep on MT 56 a bit after turning off MT 200? I did in 2017.  A mom with two young ones.

I was back that way in 2019. Stayed at Bad Medicine, a few miles south of Dorr Skeels, and took a ride up to the Ross Creek Cedars area for the walk among the trees.

Howard Miller Steelhead was also a good choice. I stayed there in both '99 and '00.  Both times it was very wet and chilly. Bunks in shelters were perfect.

[sbwaxman]

Aw, no sheep! But yes: Dorr Skeels was a lovely spot, one of my favorites of the trip, and Howard Miller Steelhead was excellent.