Spider Meadow – Spider Glacier

Date: Sept. 7, 2020

Location: Glacier Peak Wilderness (near Leavenworth, WA)

Distance: 17 miles RT

Elevation Gain:3500 feet

Highest Point: 7100 feet

This is another WA state trail on my TDL for years. Deep in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, and its notorious dirt road to TH made it a challenge to access. Spider Meadow was as beautiful as advertised, though Phelps Creek trail, Meadow’s 5.5 mile gateway (making a 11 miles RT), was long and a bit boring. On the other hand, it only cost 1000 feet of elevation gain. It’s an ideal backpacking destination provided one has a suitable vehicle – every car parked near TH was either a SUV or a truck, I did spot a lonesome Toyota Corolla. My objective this day was more ambitious – Spider Glacier far above the Meadow.

First 5.5 miles are mostly under trees with rare views to surrounding peaks. The trail boasts many creek crossings posing no problem on this late summer day, but may present challenges earlier in season.

Phelps creek meanders through the meadow.

Trail stiffens after the Meadow, climbing 2000 feet under 2 miles.

Looking down on Spider Meadow

Base of Spider Glacier

Fellow hikers coming down the Glacier from Spider Gap.

Spider Gap can be seen about 300 yards away, but out of gas and time, I turned around at this point….

and gave glissading a go.

The downward journey was beautiful with vista front and center much of the way.

One more look at this paradise