For my first major hike of the summer season I headed to the southern Cascade Mountains. One web site that said this trail was difficult and not well maintained. They must be talking about a different trail because I found this trail to be of moderate difficulty and well maintained. The views are wonderful and the grade light through alpine meadows. Once you come to the base of the peak you have to make a medium grade accent on a path of sand and broken gravel. The trail got lost under some remaining snow, but you can pick it up again easily. The day I hiked there were several groups on the mountain and from the trail log I gathered it was fairly popular in the area. At 7.2 miles out and back with a 1,300 foot rise this is a good conditioning trail. Less time at the time enjoying the views it took me a little over 4 hours.
The trailhead is about 50 miles west of Yakima on route 12. The final road is dirt and has deep ruts. Take a high clearance vehicle, my little Scion xA barely made it (let’s hear it for manual transmission). From Rt. 12, about 8 miles east of White Pass, take Tieton road toward Clear Lake. The paved road goes around the the lake (a worthwhile visit on it’s own, just for a site seeing drive). At about 5.5 miles turn right onto Forest Service Road 1205. Ignore the turn off a 2.4 miles, but bare right at 2.6 miles after Forest Service Road 742. After another 2.1 miles turn left onto Forest Service Road 757. Continue on this road for 0.7 miles and bare right to another right turn on to Forest Service Road 1205 after another 1.4 miles. As you continue uphill for the last 2.5 miles the condition of the road will vary greatly and you can bottom out if you’re not careful. The trail head is at the end of the road near the parking area.
These directions are pretty close, most of the roads are not marked and I didn’t seen any signs, so you’ll have to go by milage and road numbers. I think the trail head is here (estimations will have to do until I buy a GPS). This a great trail if you get to it. Otherwise just enjoy my pictures.
