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beExploring · Trip Reports · Washington · Manson
Echo Ridge
A short, nearly flat loop in the Echo Ridge area above Manson with excellent wildflower viewing in late spring and summer. The elevated starting point at 3,490 feet means mountain scenery without the climb. Northwest …
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At a Glance
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Distance
1.4 miles, loop
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Elevation Gain
70 ft
landscape
High Point
3,490 ft
backpack
Activity
Hike
Best For
WildflowersDogs AllowedNorthwest Forest PassMid-DistancePhoto Highlights · May 2022
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Why Go
Echo Ridge is a multi-use and multi-season trail system perched above Lake Chelan with 35 miles of trails. In the summer months, it’s a popular destination for beginner and intermediate mountain biking trails (popular in these parts of Washington being a handful of cars on the weekend….) and also serves as a great spot to hike the numerous trails, many of which are moderate loops. You will be treated to views of Lake Chelan, the Chelan mountains and the Okanogan Highlands. In the heat of the summer, Echo Ridge can offer a pleasant morning hike, with decent shade, cooler morning temps at the higher elevation, relative to Lake Chelan, and mountain breezes.
This particular hike combines the Tootsy Roll and Lolly Poop loop trails for an easy amble, and can be hiked in either direction. While these trails are open to mountain biking, it’s rare to see bikers on the trail as they are short and very easy loops. It makes the perfect hike for families with young kids, as you can stick to one of loops, or do all three - Whoop-Di-Do loop connects to Tootsy Roll and Lolly Pop.
This particular hike combines the Tootsy Roll and Lolly Poop loop trails for an easy amble, and can be hiked in either direction. While these trails are open to mountain biking, it’s rare to see bikers on the trail as they are short and very easy loops. It makes the perfect hike for families with young kids, as you can stick to one of loops, or do all three - Whoop-Di-Do loop connects to Tootsy Roll and Lolly Pop.
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Route & Map
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Getting There
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Directions
Coming from Chelan, proceed 1.5 miles west on the Chelan-Manson State Highway 150 to Boyd Road. Turn right on Boyd Road and follow the signs for 7 miles to the Echo Ridge. Once you pass the Echo Valley Ski Area, continue roughly 2 miles up the forest service road and look for the parking lot on your right.
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Parking
The loops are accessed via the Lower Trailhead parking lot. In the summer months, a northwest forest pass or interagency pass is required, or you may purchase a day pass (per vehicle) for $5 at the trailhead with either cash or check. The parking lot is good sized and I have never seen it remotely close to full, and it has a pit toilet.
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Field Notes · Personal Trip Report
Easy Spring Loop
We found the Tootsy Roll trail blanketed in wildflowers after a wet spring, and my son ran the entire 1.4-mile loop without complaint while distant peaks still wore their snow.
calendar_today May 29, 2022
straighten 1.4 miles, loop · 70 ft gain
Wanted to get the family out for a quick hike, so we headed to our go to spot, Echo Ridge. There is a pretty good trail system, and we found a loop the previous summer that is easy for my son, and doesn’t get much, if any, mountain bike traffic. There was only one other car at the Lower Trailhead when we arrived. Even in the heart of the summer, I have never seen more than a handful of cars in any lot.
Lower Echo Ridge Trailhead
Start of the hike on Tootsie Roll Trail
We headed over to the Tootsy Roll trail and began the hike. The cool and wet spring meant everything was much greener than I have seen the past couple of years, and there were a number of flowers in blossom. The mountains in the distance still had snow on them.
Snow covered mountains off in the distance
The trail itself has no real elevation gain and makes for a very easy stroll, and my son had fun running along the trail and throwing pine cones. When the sun occasionally peaked through the clouds it felt warm, but otherwise was a cool day, considering it was the end of May.
Flower in bloom
Green hills in Echo Ridge
We came to the junction with Lolly Pop and kept on hiking along Tootsy Roll. We eventually came to a spot with views of Lake Chelan.
Views of Lake Chelan
We eventually reached the junction again, and ventured onto Lolly Pop to head back to the car, enjoying the views and flowers along the way.
Flowers on the side of the trail
A great quick and easy hike for the family, with nice views of the mountains/hills around Echo Ridge. It was fun to see everything so green, and as always, there were very few people up here (at least compared to what I am used to from hiking around Seattle...)
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on this trip report · May 2022
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