Babyshoe Pass

NF-23 takes you further north into the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, along the northwestern side of the Mount Adams Wilderness Area, and east of Baby Shoe Ridge. The pass was built to connect Forest Route 23 together, providing the eastern side of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest a main north-south access road. In the middle of the trail is a short, paved bridge over Lewis River. The trail will mostly be an ascent, with an elevation gain of 734 feet. At Waypoint 4, you’ll see a sign for Baby Shoe Pass, informing you that you’ve reached 4,350 feet in elevation. The sign is, naturally, eerily adorned with baby shoes. Shortly afterward, you’ll reach the end of Baby Shoe. Baby Shoe Pass is located in the Midway High Lakes region of Mount Adams, which has five high elevation lakes nearby. Takhlakh lake, which is near the end of the trail, is the most popular of the Midway High Lakes. This trail is part of the Washington Cascade Overland Route. Visit Overlanding Across Washington for more information, including which trails to take next.