Northwest Wildflowers

Wildflower Destinations > Washington Cascades (North)
dwarf/broad-leaf fireweed

Winchester Mountain & High Pass

Whatcom County, Washington

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Fees: NW Forest Pass

Activity: hiking

Elevation: 5138'-6776'

Current status (as of 10/6/24): not blooming

Notes: From the Twin Lakes Trailhead, you can climb about 1400' to the lookout on top of Winchester Mountain, or you can veer off on the High Pass Trail to Low Pass, High Pass, and the shoulder of Mt. Larrabee — or you can do both! (Looking at the map, you may be tempted to make a partial loop by hiking north from the summit of Winchester Mountain and then bushwhacking down to Low Pass, but unfortunately there are impassable cliffs at the end of Winchester's north ridge. That said, the top of the north ridge is fun to explore, especially on the west side.)

P.S. - The road to Twin Lakes is bad, but not as bad as some sources make it seem; it's doable by any car if it's not muddy or snowy.

Peak wildflower bloom on Winchester Mountain & High Pass is typically from mid-July through the end of August, but there may be some flowers blooming from early July until mid-September.*

Typical year:

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* The dates given on this Web site for each location's blooming season are only estimates and can vary from year to year. Weather conditions in the winter and spring can shift these dates by up to a month, especially in the mountains. For the latest updates, check the Oregon Wildflowers or PortlandHikers Facebook groups, or browse the most recent postings to iNaturalist or Instagram.