Summit Mount Washington

North Bend, Washington

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Details

Distance

8.5 miles

Elevation Gain

3250 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Theresa Wang

So you're tired of the crowds at Mount Si and Mailbox Peak, yet you want a great workout with killer views of the Mountain? Look no further than Mount Washington!

Save this one for a sunny day! Steep most of the way up, this trail is not for the faint of heart. But the views of Mount Rainier are hard to beat.

The trail itself is unmarked until about a mile into the hike, so follow these directions carefully:

Follow signs for John Wayne Trail and Twin Falls near the privy.
In a few hundred yards, merge with an old logging road and keep right.
At the next junction in a few hundred feet, keep right again with the John Wayne/Iron Horse Trail.
In another few hundred feet, look for a small cairn on your left and head into the forest and onto the Mount Washington trail. See my photo above of how easy it could be to miss this!

From there, the trail immediately climbs upward and remains unrelentingly steep the whole way up. Eventually, you'll reach 4,450 feet of elevation and the summit of Mount Washington. Treat yourself to magnificent views of Mount Rainier and the Cascades. You'll also see Chester Morse Lake and Masonry Lake, the two lakes that supply water for the entire Seattle metropolitan area!

Make your way back down the way you came and always practice Leave No Trace principles - pack out what you pack in.

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Features

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Forest

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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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