Kendall Katwalk & Kendall Peak

Follow the Pacific Crest Trail out to the famed Kendall Katwalk while taking a side trip up to Kendall Peak along the way.
Total Distance: 12.2 miles
Total Ascent: 3000ft
Highest Point: 5784ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Our Hiking Time: 6h
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
To get there, take Exit 52 off I-90 and take a left toward Alpental Road. Take a right onto a small spur road marked Pacific Crest Trail and follow to the parking lot. View Google Directions >>
Something about the obvious intrusion of man onto an almost fairy-tale landscape has attracted hikers and backpackers for decades. The trail to the Katwalk begins in the mixed fir and hemlock that quickly yield to thick patches of huckleberry and salmonberry flanking the path. The Katwalk ended up being a bit further than we anticipated and we met a lot of folks equally confused and wondering if they’d somehow missed the infamous Katwalk. Our advice: just keep following the trail – you will know when you reach the Katwalk. The views are great, though we highly recommend taking the time to scramble up Kendall Peak, where the panorama dwarfs what you can see from the Katwalk.

There's a lot more to Kendall Katwalk, and you can learn all about it in Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide, and Hiking through History Washington: Exploring the Evergreen State's Past by Trail. You'll find a trail map, route descriptions, history, and more for this and many other hikes throughout the State. Help support hikingwithmybrother.com and the work we do by picking up a copy!