Berry Creek Trail

Berry Creek Trail is a remote 6.6-mile, one-way backcountry route from the Berry Creek/Glade Creek junction to the western junction with Jackass Pass Trail. The NPS backcountry map rounds the corridor to 6.7 miles. Jackass Pass itself lies farther west: following the separate Jackass Pass Trail adds about 2.1 miles. Allow around four to five hours for the Berry Creek segment alone, with about 840 feet of total climbing. This is a through-route, not a loop.

The road access is Glade Creek Trailhead on Grassy Lake Road. From there, Glade Creek Trail runs about 5.3 miles south to Berry Creek's start, so this 6.6-mile section is already deep in the backcountry. Include that approach and the far-end logistics when planning; the number above is not the full trip from your car. Grassy Lake Road has a seasonal spring closure through early June, so check its status before you go.

The National Park Service describes these northern canyons as hard to access and navigate, with high bear activity and unbridged stream crossings. Spring melt can make crossings dangerous. Bring reliable navigation and plan an overnight backcountry permit if your itinerary camps; the northern canyons have zone limits. Current trail conditions and maintenance status weren't established, so check with the park before committing.

The Berry Creek section moves through lodgepole forest and open meadows. In midsummer, the meadows can hold lupine and columbine. This is a remote canyon route, not a summit walk or a developed destination path; for Jackass Pass itself, continue another 2.1 miles on the separate trail.