Jack Creek, Jack Ridge & Trout Lake

These trails near the Rock Creek Campground about 16 miles up the Icicle Road from Leavenworth connect to form a 13-mile loop. None of our reporters have prepared a trip report of these trails. The information below is from the Forest Service. It’s our understanding at the time of this writing (late October 2015) that the trails up Jack Creek and Trout Creek are in decent condition and that the trail connecting those two (the Jack Ridge Trail) is brushy but tolerable.

Access. All of these trails leave from the Jack-Trout Trailhead. From the west end of Leavenworth, follow the Icicle Road (Forest Road 7600) some 16.25 miles to the Rock Creek Campground. Turn left just past the campground and cross the Icicle River. Shortly after the bridge crossing the river, turn left again on Spur 615 and follow this 0.2 miles to the trailhead. There’s a vault toilet at the trailhead. Elevation 2,860 feet.

Map. See our topo map below for more information.

Jack Creek Trail #1558
If you were to follow it to its end, the Jack Creek Trail is 12 miles long and gains 3600 feet in elevation. The trail begins at the Jack-Trout Trailhead, near the end of Icicle Creek Road/ Forest Road 7600. It climbs steadily for the first 1.2 miles, then comes to a junction with Trout Creek Trail #1555, which branches off to the east. Jack Creek Trail continues south through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, following the course of Jack Creek along the forested valley bottom with gradual elevation changes. The trail comes to a junction after about 2 more miles with Jack Ridge Trail #1557, which heads east and climbs steeply. The Jack Creek Trail continues along the valley floor, crossing several creeks that may be high, depending on the season, until it intersects with Meadow Creek Trail #1559. After this junction, the trail may be muddy and brushy as it continues alongside Jack Creek, crossing several more rivers that may be difficult to ford. Van Epps Creek Trail #1594 branches off to the southwest after several more miles, and Jack Creek Trail begins to criss-cross over Jack Creek, then climbs more steeply as it follows the creek up the canyon and above the tree-line. The last mile or so is a rocky ascent, climbing away from Jack Creek to Stuart Pass, where the trail ends at the junction with Ingalls Creek Trail #1215. Horse feed can be found in the basin two miles from Stuart Pass. There are several well-established campsites along the trail, all near easily-accessible water. Horse feed is available in the basin 2 miles from Stuart Pass.

Non-motorized, no bicycles.
Campfires prohibited above 5000′.
Maximum group size is twelve (total number of people and stock).
Use certified weed-free or commercially processed stock feed only.

Jack Ridge Trail #1557
This trail branches off the Jack Creek Trail after about 3.2 miles as described above and then starts climbing steeply up and over Jack Ridge. It reaches Trout Lake after an additional 4 miles. To make a loop of the outing, follow the Trout Lake Trail back to the car (about 5.7 miles back this way)

Wilderness Trail: Non-motorized, no bicycles.
Campfires prohibited above 5000′ and at Trout Lake.
Maximum group size is twelve (total number of people and stock).
Use certified weed-free or commercially processed stock feed only.

Trout Lake Trail # 1555
This trail departs from the Jack Creek Trail # 1558 (described above) after 1.2 miles and then climbs on a moderate grade towards Trout Lake. About 4 miles after leaving the Jack Creek Trail junction comes a junction with the Eightmile-Trout Creek Trail #1554, a trail that climbs steeply to the spectacular high country around Windy Pass (3.25 miles to Windy Pass). Trout Lake is another half mile beyond this junction. There is no horse feed available at Trout Lake. The lake is wooded and not real accessible.