Esmeralda Basin
Key Info
(technical difficulty)
(physical difficulty)Stats
General
This scenic loop around Esmeralda Peaks is an excellent "mini" Cascade alpine sampler. It is a nice shorter backcountry ride with a solid long singletrack climb and a technical descent full of tricky switchbacks, plenty of root systems and even a bit of exposure to keep you honest. Anticipate 3.5 to 5 hours on trail, though the mileage is relatively short, the singletrack and jeep road climbs will take some time and an occasional hike-a-bike. Parking at the De Roux Campground and pedaling the quick 2 miles to the Esmeralda trailhead provides a nice warm-up as the trail immediately climbs steeply away and you will then finish the ride at your car.
The trail is shared by hikers, horses and the De Roux section by motos. Typical for the area the tread can become dusty with loose rock as a result of usage and horses leave their "usage" on trail. :)
Some of these trails are listed incorrectly as closed to mountain bikes on the Forest Service website and on Green Trails maps. They ARE open to bikes.
Cle Elum is the closest for food and services.
From Seattle
- I-90 east to Exit 85
- Take SR-970 towards Wenatchee/Leavenworth.
- About 6.9mi from the freeway, take a left on the Teanaway Rd.
- (If you get to the junction with SR-97, you've gone too far.)
- After another 7 mi, you'll reach the intersection with the W. Fork Teanaway Rd., keep going straight and the road becomes the N. Fork Teanaway Rd.
- The paved road becomes gravel, follow the signs to the Esmerelda Basin Trailhead #1394, from the point where the road turns to gravel to the trailhead is approximately 10 miles, if you are going to park at the De Roux campground, it is approximately 8 miles.
- You'll see the horse camp on your left, just past the horse camp, take the road fork to the left down to the De Roux Campground.
Northwest Forest Pass required to park at trailhead
Up Esmeralda Trail 1394 (2,000 ft climb) to the saddle viewpoint at approx. 5900 ft elevation (ignore the steep spur trail at the saddle and continue over and head down). Do not take Trail 1390 (Lk Ingalls) or 1226.2 at junctions. Continue 1394 downhill until you hit a jeep road (4W301) and turn left (south). The jeep road has a short but quite nasty climb in it. Ride past Gallagher Head Lake about 100 yards or so and look for sign on your left pointing to De Roux-Boulder Trail 1392 (De Roux Creek), which is a singletrack heading down. Enjoy the trail back to the De Roux Campground.
Variations
If you feel that 12-ish miles and 2,700 feet of climbing isn't enough exercise to justify the long drive, there are lots of ways to extend the ride by starting elsewhere and riding to the loop. Many of the nearby trails are open to bikes.
Boulder/DeRoux lollipop variation
This adds about 9 miles and at least 1800 feet of climbing. Tough climbing with lots of challenges: roots, scree, rocks, rutted trail, steeps, roots, rocks, you name it. Only for those who are in great shape.
Instead of using the regular directions, drive to Roslyn, then follow the Salmon La Sac road north, going about 7 miles past the end of the pavement at the Salmon la Sac campground, and go right up road [#??] to find the Big Boulder Creek trailhead.
Ride Reports
Rode Esmeralda yesterday, 9/4/19 with a friend. Didn't see a single person the whole route. Glad that I brought my full suspension bike this time because it is a pretty loose, rocky climb. (the first time I rode this on my hardtail)
The trail is pretty dry, lots of shallow creek crossings...
This is one of my favorite backcountry rides; I love rocky rides. It was cooler on this day than other times I rode it, and that helps a lot in this part of WA. The initial rocky grunt gets done fast (watch for hikers) then it's much easier. Creeks nice and cool, and were running aplenty. The sad...
Rode Esmeralda Basin for the first time yesterday. We missed the De Roux campground though, due to no signs for it on the N Fork Teanaway Road. It's just past the horse camp though, the only signs are ones that have trail #s on them. That's where you'll want to go left to the campground. Fro...
Had a mountain biking colleague from Sweden in town and wanted to take him someplace where he could get a sample of our backcountry riding without having to drive for 3-4 hours or camp over night. Esmeralda fit the bill. I last rode this loop in 2012 and I agree with an earlier ride r...
Parked at De Roux campground. Forest pass required. Up road to trailhead, riding the loop CCW. Ride up to the saddle is a grunt. Take the time to look back as you climb for the amazing views. As you crest the saddle, the trail starts down straightahead, then to the left side - look for the small...
Beautiful spot, but the trail is badly blown out. Prepare to walk your bike often through wash-outs and mud. Snow still on the saddle. I would wait another month for this trail to dry out a bit more. Definitely a tougher ride than described—the 2700' ascent was brutal. That said, the ride down wa...
We parked at De Roux TH, rode up the road to the Esmerelda Basin trail and did the loop CCW. Trail is in really good shape, except for about 10 blowdowns in the last two miles of trail. I assume this warm year has opened this trail up way ahead of schedule. This ride certainly made for an all day...