Salmon Ridge Trail Notes
Conditions, distances and the occasional bad decision, logged since 2019.
Late-season update
The upper switchbacks above the second creek crossing are dry again after last week's rain. The log bridge at km 6.4 is intact but slick in the morning; the ford 40 m downstream is knee-deep and honest. Snow is gone from the saddle, and the marmots have mostly stopped arguing with hikers.
Water: reliable at the trailhead tap, the km 3.1 spring and the tarn below the saddle. Nothing dependable between the tarn and the descent junction, so carry two litres for the ridge section on warm days.
Loop summary
| Segment | Distance | Gain | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trailhead → creek crossing | 4.2 km | 310 m | 1 h 10 |
| Creek → saddle | 3.8 km | 520 m | 1 h 40 |
| Saddle → ridge high point | 2.1 km | 190 m | 50 min |
| High point → descent junction | 3.6 km | −410 m | 1 h 05 |
| Junction → trailhead | 5.5 km | −610 m | 1 h 30 |
Seasonal notes
May–June. Expect snow above 1600 m and a swollen crossing at km 4.2. Poles help more than spikes.
July–August. Best months. Start before 7 to have the saddle before the afternoon build-up. Bugs are worst in the first two weeks of July.
September–October. Larches turn in the last week of September. First lasting snow on the ridge is usually mid-October; the loop closes itself after that.
Getting there
Gravel road, 11 km from the highway turnoff, passable for any car with a bit of patience. The lot fits about twenty vehicles; on weekends it is full by 8 am and people park along the road, which the ranger district tolerates as long as the turnaround stays clear.