Devils Gulch / Mission Ridge
Info
Devils Gulch and Mission Ridge are two sections that are part of the Mission/Tronsen Ridge trail system. Lots of options. You have to go through hell before you get to heaven...
From the lower parking lot it is an eleven mile climb to the top of Devil's Gulch. A long long climb that gives at least one indication of why this trail is named after the fallen angel. However, once at the top you will be rewarded with scenic views of the North Cascades. Best of all the single track is hard packed and usually dry. Long sweeping turns, wide open trails through old growth timber and sharp switch backs make the top of Devil's Gulch and intoxicating ride. No wonder there are so many sinners in the world! After a steep drop off the ridge you will be rocketing back and forth along each side of the canyon. The trail is smooth and fast all the way down and crosses the Mission Creek several times.
The single track in Devil's Gulch is some of the smoothest and fastest in the state.
Devil's Gulch is in the Wenatchee National Forest. The forest is currently evaluating roadless areas that may be proposed as Wilderness, thus shutting bikes out of the trails. It is unlikely that Devil's Gulch or Mission Ridge will be recommended as Wilderness, but other trails in the Wenatchee, Okanogan and Colville National Forests may be at risk.
Ride Reports
My son and I rode from the Devil's Gulch trail head up to Upper Mission. Road was good, except a couple spots low where the creek continues to wash out the road different way every year, but it's pretty easy to pass.
The road from Devil's Gulch trailhead to Upper Mission isn't drivable un...
Husband and relatives riding on Mission Creek Road on their way to Devil's Gulch TH spotted a cougar sitting in the grass along the side of the road less than a quarter mile from the TH. Not agressive but would not move out of the area for 10 minutes after it was spotted. With the rec...
Rode up 7100 to Liberty Beehive, down DG and down Mission at the intersection. Lot's of creek crossings on 7100.
Upper devil's gulch was hero dirt. Mission is already getting loose and dry on the ridge but still in good shape.
All clear of blow downs all the way from t...
Rode Devils Gulch up to the 4-way, then down Mission Ridge. Had been several years since I'd ridden this eastern WA classic, and it was time to hit it again.
Trails were in, well, decent shape, but there were a fair amount of deep rutted puddles. As far as logs that required a...
Rode yesterday (thanks @harking for the pre-ride beta). Hadn't been there in a few years and typically wouldn't have gone mid-summer usually saving this one as a fall ride, however the forecast looked cooler than typical and we had drizzle in the parking lot and it had rained earlier which tamped...
Great ride. Rode up Devil's Gulch and back down Mission Ridge.
The ride up was pleasant, a few stream crossings that are all ridable.
Bear was spotted at 7 miles up Devil's Gulch, so make sure you're loud when you ride in this area.
Bombed down Mission Ridge. It is pretty torn up f...
Rained on Friday night, dry and sunny today. Conditions were perfect. The climb is long, but pleasant. About 2 hours to the top, but never so steep that you can't enjoy a conversation with your riding buddies. Topping at about 5000 elevation, you really feel like you have accomplished something g...
Rode an out and back on Devil's Gulch all the way to the top. Was brutally hot but otherwise a great ride. The middle is a bit overgrown and there are a few spots that feel pretty loose on the edge of the cliff, but overall it's in decent shape. Already starting to get loose and dry so the time t...
As of early May 2016 this trail was in rough shape. the upper and lower sections aren't bad with a handful of trees over the trail ranging in size from small to massive. The middle 4 miles of the trail are in very rough shape. We had to cross over more than 30 trees in the trail...
Our group decided to shuttle this ride and save the long uphill treck. Trail was dry and in good shape and we only encountered two logs over the trail. I found the ride to be clean and smooth. The river crossings are super easy as very little water is running right now. Gorgeous fall v...
Reminder that it's fee parking if you drive all the way in but if you park before the sign on the side of the road it's not. Trail was in great shape but in the dryer weather it's a little dusty so no big deal. Very fun!
Great day in the Gulch. Took the fire road up past the Devils Gulch Trail to Mission Ridge Trail. Temps were in the 90's so a bit of a grunt on the way up. But trail was in great shape all the way down. Rivers were all passable and rideable except for one that I chose to cross on logs. Saw about...
First time on this trail or in this area for that matter. My trooper of a wife dropped me off at the intersection of NF-9712 and Mission Ridge Rd. Due to my poor planning I was not aware she could have driven up 9712 to the trail head! Worse, I passed the Devils Gulch T/H and rode up to the Missi...
We rode up NF-7100 road from parking area. All creeks on the ascent up the road are crossable with rocks/logs in place to avoid having to ford through the water.
On the...
I took the road up and it was fine--the creek crossings got progressively smaller and more solid frozen on the road up and it was pretty pleasant, actually. I took it fairly easy to not build up too much sweat and to be able to keep moving.
The trail was pretty good in most places--fi...
It was very cloudy today with fairly dense fog in parts at ground level, so no views until the later parts of the ride. Trail in great shape. There was standing water in some spots, as expected on an 11 mile singletrack descent this time of year, but for the most part. the traction was great...
Really excellent trail and it's in good shape. Super fun, extremely sustained descent.
We had the usual great day at Devil's Gulch. We climbed the fire road up and decided to drop in at the Devil's Gulch trail rather than head up the extra couple of miles to Mission Ridge trail. There was a bunch of contruction near the trailhead, but it didn't interfere with the ride. The trail wa...
Rode with my brother and 14yr old son. Wives were going to Wenatchee for the day so they dropped us off at Mission Ridge Ski resort and we rode from there on the Squilchuck Trail over to the road that goes to Upper Mission Ridge.
Squilchuck Trail was fun. Stopped at the lakes. The regrowt...
I did a point to point ride from Haney Meadows and Mt. Lillian up to Tronsen Ridge and down to Red Hill trail and then onto Red Hill Spur to Devils Gulch. I started around 1:00 and it was roughly 78-80° at Haney Meadows; much nicer than it was down below!
I took a side tri...