Two of the most-wanted camps on the Wonderland Trail are Summerland and Indian Bar. They lie just five miles apart, and our itinerary included both of them.
The Route
The sunrise from our camp at Summerland was a spectacular send-off for the day. We would be climbing 874 feet to the highest point on the Wonderland Trail: 6,750-foot Panhandle Gap. The climb was just over a mile, and steep.
This section of the trail is above the timberline, and the scenery is very different from most of the Wonderland Trail. There are creek crossings, snowfields, and aquamarine tarns that reminded me of the Sierra Nevada.
We stopped at Panhandle Gap for a break. The wind whipped at us, forcing us to head just downhill, where we were partially sheltered.
From the gap, the trail does a bit of a roller-coaster routine for the next two miles, finally reaching a ridgeline that begins the descent. The final 1.5 miles drops 1,600 feet, and you can actually pick out the Indian Bar shelter from far away.
We had a warm, bluebird day and meadows filled with wildflowers as we descended into the canyon.
Highlights
Panhandle Gap
At 6,750 feet, Panhandle Gap is the highest point on the Wonderland Trail. The approach is above the timberline, with creek crossings, snowfields and aquamarine tarns, and the views north and south from the gap are the reward for a steep mile of climbing.
Indian Bar
The descent into the Indian Bar canyon runs through wildflower meadows, and you can pick out the shelter from far away. The group shelter itself has wooden platform bunk beds.
Where to Stay
We had the group site at Indian Bar as well, and it was the nicest shelter yet. This one actually had wooden platform bunk beds. The hike took us just over three hours, leaving plenty of time to soak our feet in the cold water of the Ohanapecosh River.
Food & Water
There are several creek crossings along the climb to Panhandle Gap, and at camp the cold Ohanapecosh River is right there for a foot soak. There’s no resupply on this stretch. At this point I admit I was starting to look forward to celebrating the completion with a pizza and a beer.
Practical Notes
- Short day, big payoff: Only 5 miles, but it crosses the highest point on the Wonderland Trail.
- Climb: The climb to Panhandle Gap is just over a mile, and steep.
- Wind: It can whip across the gap; just downhill from the gap is partially sheltered.
- Snow and water: Expect snowfields and creek crossings above the timberline.
- Descent: The trail roller-coasters for two miles beyond the gap, then the final 1.5 miles drops 1,600 feet to Indian Bar.
- Permit: We had the group site at Indian Bar; check your own permit for your assigned site.
The Day in Numbers
| Start | Summerland |
| End | Indian Bar |
| Distance | 5 miles (8.0 km) |
| Moving time | 3 hours |
| Elevation gain | 874 ft (266 m) |
| Elevation loss | 2,002 ft (610 m) |
| High point | Panhandle Gap, 6,750 ft (2,057 m), highest point on the Wonderland Trail |
| Camp | Indian Bar group shelter (wooden platform bunks) |
Our next camp would be at Maple Creek, and our final night on the Wonderland Trail.
Originally hiked on August 15, 2019 with Derek and Jason.
Jeff has hiked and explored trails for over 50 years, covering everything from casual canyon walks to rugged multi-day Sierra routes. He started SoCalHiker.net in 2010 to document the trails he loves — and to make it easier for others to discover them.