Area · Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness
Indianhead Basin
23.5 mi round trip6,606 ft gainVery hardDay hike: Free self-issueOvernight: Free self-issue
Get alerts for this hikePermits and reservations
Day hikeFree self-issue
Fill out the free wilderness permit at the trailhead kiosk.
OvernightFree self-issue
No reservation. Use the same free permit, keep groups to 12 or fewer, and camp at least 200 ft from water.
Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness rules from the Forest Service. Matched from official wilderness boundaries. Always confirm with the land manager before you go.
About the trail
Distance23.5 miRound trip, out and back
Elevation gain6,606 ftTotal climb, round trip
High point6,870 ftFrom elevation data
Overview
Indianhead Basin is an area reached by a 23.5-mile round trip from West Fork Buttermilk Trailhead. The route follows West Fork Buttermilk Trail, then Fish Creek Trail, then Summit Trail-Wilderness, then Surprise Lake Trail, then Indianhead Basin Trail #1250 to the destination.
Photos from hikers
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What you need
Parking and passes
Forest Service trailhead: display a Northwest Forest Pass or an interagency pass (America the Beautiful).
Buy a Northwest Forest PassGetting there
The hike starts at West Fork Buttermilk Trailhead. Save directions offline before you leave, since mountain roads often lose cell service.