During your stay with us, take some time to enjoy some of the many exciting nature adventures and scenic hikes just minutes from Whistlin' Jack Lodge. There are activities year-round...something for everyone!

Take a picnic basket with you from the Lodge or Deli

Alpine Skiing

From Whistlin' Jack Lodge, you are just 55 miles away from wonderful skiing at White Pass. Visit the White Pass Ski Resort website for more information.

Boating

Bumping Lake, a reservoir on the Yakima - Columbia drainage system, is a twenty minute drive from Whistlin' Jack Lodge. The lake is about 18 miles long and is surrounded by big craggy peaks that are snow capped until the later part of June. At the Bumping Lake Marina you will find RV camping, boat rentals, and a store. Open May to September by calling (509) 454-0331.

Fishing A Go-Go: Nearby Rivers, Creeks and Fishing Secrets

by Doug Williams

I must begin by mentioning - Check the Washington State Fishing Regulations CLOSELY! You will be in way-over-your-head if you fish without FIRST understanding the regulations for a particular body of water. SECOND - As a general rule, every drainage has its own set of regulations to follow.

In the Mt. Rainier National Park, the American River flows from the summit east to confluence with the Little Naches River. Naches River forms there and travels east to confluence with the Yakima River. Rainbow Trout, Eastern Brook, Cut Throat and Dolly Vardon are some of the fish you can catch in these rivers. In addition to the Naches River, Bumping Lake and fish producing streams, there are many high mountain lakes and runs for the beginner or experienced fisherman. Be sure to stock up on any outdoor supplies, gasoline, deli snacks to-go or a good ole fish story, at Little Jack's Corner grocery.

Nearby Fishing Spots

• Nile Creek, Rattlesnake and Little Rattlesnake Creeks - Cutthroat & Rainbow Trout Upper Rattlesnake: Down in the gorge where the canyon walls close in.
• Naches River - Rainbow, Cutthroat, Brook & Dolly Vardon Trout, Winter White Fish. You pick the spot and pick wisely. There's mighty biggun's in them thar' waters!
• Little Naches River - Rainbow, Cutthroat, Brook & Dolly Vardon Trout. Winter White Fish.
• The tributaries that empty into the Little Naches River, generally speaking, have Eastern Brook and Rainbows The fish will be small but surprisingly good fighters plus they taste delicious pan-fried with butter.
• Bumping River - Cutts, Brook and Rainbow Trout Pay particular attention to log jams and back water. Big ones lay in those locales.
• The tributaries that empty into the Bumping River, offer bigger fish than the Little Naches River tributaries.
• Upper Bumping River and Region - Rainbow, Cutts, Brook & Dolly's. There are a number of creeks plus the Upper Bumping River that empty into Bumping Lake. They all hold sizable trout. Catch and Release is certainly recommended for these creeks.
• American River - Cutts, Brook & Rainbow Trout. An abundance of trout are found all along the river. They are not large, but they put up a good fight for a very enjoyable fishing experience.

For more information on great fishing spots near Whistlin' Jack Lodge, see the Naches Ranger Stations's Lakes and Streams listing.

Hiking

Whistlin' Jack Lodge is surrounded by the Wenatchee National Forest. Within easy walking distance are many trails,

Trail Heads

Fife's Ridge – 13.1 miles
Union Creek – 17.2 miles
Hell's Crossing – 12.4 miles
Mesatchee Creek – 18.7 miles
Indian Flats – 5.8 miles
Bear Gap – 20.8 miles

Little Bald Mountain Fire Lookout - a great hike with incredible scenery from the location of the old Fire Lookout - or...a short drive from the Lodge.

Boulder Cave, a natural cave created years ago by the falling of a huge rock. A gravel path leads you to the entrance of the cave. The trail continues through the cave back to the gravel path and finally, back to your car. There is also a nice picnic area and a system of trails and foot bridges that go out to the rivers edge. If you do decide to go through the cave, don't forget your flashlight!

Edgar Rock Named for the army scout that one time stood on the rock high above the gap (near Whistlin' Jack Lodge) keeping watch over the white settlements. Edgar was married to a Yakama Indian woman, niece of 'Ie-I-as (uncle of Qual-chan, a Yakama Indian Chief). It is told that Te-i-as warned Edgar of Qual-chan's plan to attack the army troops coming over the pass. Edgar, in turn, related his news to the army commander, who retreated to safety. Qual-chan, furious that his plan had been thwarted, banned Te-i-as to exile with the old men and women in the Kittitas Valley, and swore vengeance on Edgar who had tricked him. Legends and stories vary about Edgar, but some say he returned .to his lookout rock where he was met there and killed by "the party headed by Qual-chan." Thus the name "Edgar Rock" is significant to this day. Distance to the trail head from Whistlin' Jack Lodge is 2 miles.

Horseback Riding

Just a few miles up the road from the Lodge is Chinook Pass Guides and Outfitters. Owners Paul and Sally Wilson operate a guide and pack service. They can provide a mountain trail ride experience for a few hours or, for the more adventurous, they can pack you and your equipment into the high wilderness in a guided tour or as a drop camp. Call (509) 653-2633 or email cpo@compwrx.com, or visit their website at www.chinookpass.com for more information

Huckleberry Picking

Huckleberries can be found around the Little Naches in late Summer/early Autumn. The best huckleberry fields are actually found near Packwood and Mt. Adams. If you wait much past Labor Day, the bears will have eaten them all!

Snowmobiling

A favorite winter sport of many is snowmobiling. The Naches Ranger District maintains a list of snowmobile routes and tips for snowmobilers. If you don't have your own snowmobile, you can contact Winter Star Snowmobiles for rentals. Don't forget to stop by Whistlin' Jack Lodge after your run for a warm meal, and continued fun times with friends in the Fireside Lounge.

Spelunking/Cave Exploring

Boulder Cave – 7 mile drive from Whistlin' Jack Lodge. 1/2 mile hike to the cave (bring your own flashlight)

Boulder Cave Falls - Hike to Boulder Cave, from the trail at the far side of the cave view the 25-30 feet high waterfall.

Waterfalls

A short drive up Chinook Pass to the Union Falls Trailhead will lead you to a waterfall. For the more adventurous, a little more effort will reward you with another waterfall. Although the falls have water year round, the best viewing is March through July. For more information on waterfalls in the area.

Wildlife Viewing

Elk, Deer, Bear, Mountain Goat and Big Horn Sheep are predominant wildlife; also Lynx, Bobcat, Coyote and Fox.

Enjoy the Natural Beauty

"Something for everyone" probably best describes the Wenatchee National Forest in central Washington. You will find a wide range of recreational activities available in a variety of forest settings, accessed by over 2,500 miles of recreation trails and 4,700 miles of forest roads.

The Wenatchee National Forest is a recreation paradise for virtually any form of outdoor pursuit, including winter sports. Visitors can also enjoy the pristine beauty of alpine meadows, sparkling mountain lakes, and jagged peaks that touch the sky.

In addition to Lake Chelan and 7-mile long Lake Wenatchee, there are also five major reservoirs within the forest 's boundaries. These furnish irrigation water for farmlands and an abundance of fishing and other recreation opportunities for forest visitors.

Exceptional beauty in this forest is found in all of the seven wilderness areas: Alpine Lakes, Glacier Peak, Henry M. Jackson, Goat Rocks, William O. Douglas, Norse Peak, and Lake Chelan-Sawtooth.

Points of Interest near Whistlin' Jack Lodge

Mt. Rainier National Park (east entrance) – 27 Miles

Bumping Lake Recreation Area

Bumping River Road – 7.5 miles
Goose Prairie Restaurant & Inn – 16 miles
Bumping Lake & Marina (elevation 3500') heart of William O. Douglas Wilderness area. Camping and picnic areas available (watch out for bears, raccoons, chipmunks, squirrels and Golden Mantled Ground Squirrels. Bumping Lake Marina, far side of the lake, where boaters enjoy the beautiful lake surroundings. – 20 miles
Swamp Lake Trail – 25 miles
Twin Sisters Lake – 30 miles

Chinook Pass Summit (5410' elevation) opens annually in May, closes in November. Just 27 miles west of Whistlin' Jack Lodge is one of the world's most beautiful alpine scenes. The name Chinook is derived from Tsinuk, a tribe of gregarious Indian traders living on the lower Columbia River. When the white man arrived, their language augmented with French and English became the "Chinook jargon" used by early traders and pioneers. The word Chinook is frequently used in the Pacific Northwest as a name for large King salmon, which make their annual return to spawn and die on the Naches River. The pass, on the east side of Mount Rainier, was so named because it also refers to the "Chinook" or warm snow-melting winds from the Pacific Ocean that often blow over the Cascades and into the Yakima Valley.

Chinook Pass Attractions

Milk Creek Road – 3.3 Miles
Milk Pond – 1 ½ miles
Milk Lake – 10 Miles
Pleasant Valley Campground – 15.8 miles
Soda Springs Campground - 12 miles - Actual soda springs via 1/4 mile hike

Lake Tipsoo – 27 miles - Incredibly beautiful alpine lake with Mt. Rainier showing as a backdrop on clear days. Surrounded by alpine flowers in the late summer/early autumn and many hiking trails.

Little Naches Recreation Area

Little Naches Road – Spike Armstrong salmon ladder steelhead and salmon viewing (seasonal). Picnic and campgrounds throughout the area. 5 miles west, turn right on Little Naches Road
Longmire Meadows – 9 miles
Sand Creek Trail – 13 miles
Timothy Meadows – 17 miles
Raven's Roost has panoramic views of Mt. Rainier, the Stuart range and Norse Peak Wilderness area. Wildlife is everywhere, with trails, meadows and creeks to walk along or to just sit beside – 20 miles
Cougar Valley – 23 miles
Crow Lake Trail – 2 miles
(you can hike to Crow Lake from Cougar Valley)

Pacific Crest Trail – A favorite day hike starts and ends at the summit of Chinook Pass where you would cross over the highway on a massive wooden foot bridge that is part of the Pacific Crest Trail system and also marks the boundary of Mt. Rainier National Park. As you follow this trail, you are treated to huge vistas of the American River drainage bordered by the William O. Douglas and Norse Peak Wilderness Areas. Further down the trail are meadows of wild flowers, and finally, a magnificent view of Mt. Rainier. The end of the trail is an alpine lake called Tipsoo, and from there it is only a short walk back to your car. Take a lunch and plan for about four hours. This is best from July to October. 27 Miles

White Pass – 55 miles Ski Resort

Interesting Links

Chinook Pass Reports
Chinook Scenic Byway
Everything Yakima
Naches River flow
Naches Valley Chamber of Commerce
Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail (Yakima Valley)
USDA Forest Service - Wenatchee National Forest
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
Wine Yakima Valley
Yakima Chamber of Commerce
Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau

in Cliffdell, Washington on Chinook Pass (Hwy 410)
20800 State Route 410
Naches, Washington 98937-9170
Tel. (509) 658-2433
Fax (509) 658-2436
Toll free (800) 827-2299
Email info@whistlinjacks.com