Bowen Pass Trail #1136

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Features Commonly Backpacked · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

From the turn off for the Bowen Lake Trail #118, the Bowen Pass Trail branches to the north from the Bowen Gulch Trail #119. From here, the trail climbs steadily up the drainage for the steam that flows from Ruby Lake. The first part of the climb is mostly forested, but around 1 mile, you'll emerge from the trees to some spectacular views.

Once above treeline, the trail heads to the east of Ruby Lake and climbs steeply up to the Bowen Pass at the saddle between the shoulders of Ruby Mountain and Bowen Mountain. The Blue Ridge Trail #N20 joins the trail here from the west. Take a moment to enjoy the views back down the gulch you just climbed and of the surrounding peaks of the Never Summers.

Continuing on, the backside of the pass has a few steep but well-used switchbacks. Here, the trail passes into a high alpine meadow that has some truly stunning wildflower displays in the early summer. Stay to the right at the next junction; here the CDT turns to the west along what is marked as the Ruby Mountain Trail.

The trail eventually ends at an unmarked junction with the Never Summer Trail #1141.

Incredible wildflowers on the north side of Bowen Pass in season. Moose, elk, deer, bear, marmots.