Bandera Mountain
North Bend, Washington
Details
Distance
7.8 miles
Elevation Gain
3176 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Mikaela Tangeman
Bandera Mountain is a challenging hike up to the summit. You'll be rewarded with views of Mount Rainier and Mason Lake.
This hike has unreal views of Mount Rainier. On a great clear spring day, the mountain is out. It's right in your face. It's incredible. If you tackle this hike in the spring the bear grass and wildflowers are alive and blooming towards the top and it makes for some fantastic picture-taking. Once at the top there is a picturesque view of Mason Lake.
You start out on Bandera Mountain/Ira Spring Trail Trailhead #1038. There is a turn-off to the left towards Mason Lake - you will want to go straight to get to the top of Bandera Mountain to see the beargrass and wildflowers. It is a STEEP scramble and many people turn around if they are not prepared for the steepness. Hiking boots are required. Camping is also available at Mason Lake with a permit that needs to be redeemed before the hike and placed on your car and pack.
If the hike is a little long for your taste, you can turn around at Little Bandera and save about 3.25 miles roundtrip.
Getting there: Take exit 45 off of I-90 and turn north onto FR 9030. Stay left onto FR 9031. Follow it to its end and the trailhead for the Ira Spring Trail #1038. Road is one-lane gravel and dirt. GPS Coordinates: 47.4247, -121.5836
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Bandera Mountain Reviews
I backpacked to Bandera and hiked mason lake in the morning. Still quite a bit of snow in the area. Be prepared, it was a little chilly and the description is not wrong about the steepness. The views how ever are quite possibly worth the work!
4.0
We started on the trail around 9am and the parking lot was pretty much full by that point- so it's a very popular hike. Right off of I-90 and only and hour from Seattle. It has quite the elevation gain the whole way up but nothing that's back breaking. Views from the top are worth it! Caught the largest snow fields around 3800ft and couldn't hike much further up since all we had was microspikes and poles- no ice axes to attempt to get over the big ice/snow fields. Planning on heading back out in a few weeks when the snow if more melted and get into the lakes hiding behind.
4.0
Leave No Trace
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Mason Lake via Ira Spring
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