Peak · North Cascades National Park
Jackknife Peak
12.2 mi round trip3,249 ft gainVery hardDay hike: No permitOvernight: Reservation
Get alerts for this hikePermits and reservations
Day hikeNo permit
Day hikes in the national park need no permit or reservation.
OvernightReservation
Every overnight stay needs a wilderness permit, year-round. Reserve on Recreation.gov or walk up in Marblemount.
Permit calendar
Early-access lotteryEarly March
Winners bookLate March to April
General reservationsLate April
Walk-up permitsMid-May to early October
North Cascades National Park rules from the National Park Service. Exact dates are set each year; past years followed this pattern. Always confirm with the land manager before you go.
About the trail
Distance12.2 miRound trip, out and back
Elevation gain3,249 ftTotal climb, round trip
Summit7,681 ftFrom elevation data
Overview
Jackknife Peak is a peak reached by a 12.2-mile round trip from Gilbert Trailhead. The route follows Twisp Pass Trail, then Stiletto Lake Trail to the summit.
Heads up: off-trail finish (summit route not mapped).
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 Gilbert Trailhead. Save directions offline before you leave, since mountain roads often lose cell service.