Trail Overview
North Ridge is a long route, spanning 8.1 miles, through the Wenatchee National Forest. It has constant intermediate obstacles, steep, exposed terrain, and fantastic views. Throughout the route, you’ll experience narrow, exposed side-hilling sections, especially in the first few miles on the northern end, as it steeply climbs through the forest on a loose, rocky, and narrow trail. It has frequent switchbacks, some tight and steep, and others more gradual. Expect loose rocks, roots, embedded rock layers, and a couple of bigger rock obstacles as well. Midway through, the route passes through shaded forest sections that are fun and flowy, riding through mossy fir trees. Although there are frequent steep hills both up and down. The route generally ascends from north to south, as it climbs towards the intersections with Mount Clifty and Cle Elum Ridge. The southern section is more ridge-line riding with sections of moderate exposure, but lots of brake bumps. There are narrow meadow sections on the ridge-line. The trail passes several viewpoints that make for great resting points or lunch stops that overlook the mountains. Overall, this trail has a mix of flowy and technical sections, and it’s an alternate access trail system that takes you to a few of the more advanced trails (Greek Creek and Mount Clifty).
Difficulty
Northridge is an intermediate route due to constant moderate obstacles throughout the route. Expect moderate exposure, narrow trail, switchbacks, loose terrain, and a few larger rock obstacles. There are many steep and loose climbs, roots, loose rocks, and side-hilling segments. The route is physically demanding as it is long, and a constant climb from north to south.
