NATURE'S PLAYBOOK

Length: 10 miles Elevation gain: 2,100 ft Time: 5-8 hours Difficulty: Moderate This hike heads north on the Pacific Crest Trail starting at Rainy Pass and heads uphill to the ridgeline and Cutthroat Pass. The incline is pretty gradual, slowly creeping up following a series of switchbacks. The first section takes you through a dark forest where you’ll get a few snippets through the trees of the stunning views ahead. This trail is frequented by a lot of avid hikers and thru-hikers, especially those on their PCT journey. If you’re looking for a longer day, you can keep hiking along the PCT, you will need to turn around eventually unless you plan on a multi-day hike. Alternatively, you can hike it as a point to point (16ish miles). At the top of Cutthroat pass, take the Cutthroat Creek Trail which will lead you down near the lake before letting you out at the Cutthroat Trailhead. If you’re coming from the West, the turnoff to the trailhead will be on your left. Continue up the dirt road where you’ll find parking and vault toilets. A Forest Service Pass is required for most trailheads, so make sure you’ve purchased one in advance or scan the QR code at the trailhead.