The trailhead features two rustic picnic tables beneath a small but dramatic waterfall. The first 1/4 mile of the trail is a bit rough and moderately steep, following along a raging creek. The slope soon becomes much gentler, suitable for children, and the trail gradually follows an abandoned mining road up the Esmerelda Basin between Esmerelda Peaks and Ingalls Peak.

Enter a lush meadow at .4 mile, where the Ingalls Lake trail #1390 heads off to the right. The Esmerelda Basin trail #1394 leads gradually up through a beautiful series of wildflower meadows and woods. Enjoy glacier lilies and spring beauty early; shooting star, phlox, wild strawberries, paintbrush, columbine, and desert parsley in July. Good campsites may be found along the trail.

At 2 miles the mining road heads off to the right and the trail switchbacks up the south slope of Ingalls Peak through more meadows toward Fortune Creek Pass. The next trail junction is just beyond a small stream crossing at 5900', 3.1 miles from the trailhead. Trail #1394 turns west, leading over Fortune Creek Pass and down to Fortune Creek 4X4 trail #4W301. The County Line trail #1226.2 climbs north to another lovely meadow, and then follows an old watercourse to an unnamed pass above tiny Lake Ann. It is more like a route than a trail in places.

The views from the pass are grand. To the north a broad vista looks out over numerous peaks in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and to the south rise Esmerelda Peaks and Hawkins Mountain. Pine and Engelmann spruce grow at the pass (6400'), and a great campsite on the ridgeline is sheltered by spruce and a wall built up of rocks.

The trail continues north from here, dropping down to Lake Ann about 250' below and then on to Van Epps Pass and 4X4 country.

Round trip hiking time to the nameless pass is about 5-6 hours. Watch out for road apples--equestrians use this trail.
[edit]

Driving Directions:
Exit I-90 east of Cle Elum. Take SR 970 north to the Teanaway Road. Follow the North Fork Teanaway Road to the 29 Pines Campground where the pavement ends at a fork in the road. Take the right fork, FR 9737, 10 miles to its end at trailhead #1394, Esmerelda Basin.
[edit]