Scorpion Mountain via Johnson Ridge Trail #1067

Our Hiking Time: 4h 5m
Total Ascent: 2600ft (2300ft in and 300ft out)
Highest Point: 5540ft
Total Distance: 8 miles
Location: N 47° 47.5440, W 121° 11.8620
Difficulty: Hard



This week we decided to find out if summer had reached the mountaintops along the Highway 2 corridor, holding on to the faint hope that snows had miraculously receded. We chose the somewhat obscure Scorpion Mountain, assuming its relatively low elevation would mean no lingering snow. The bad news? We encountered a lot more snow than we should have in July. But the good news is that the snow is definitely on the way out – at least under 6,000ft.

Just inside the Wild Sky Wilderness, Scorpion Mountain anchors one end of Johnson Ridge, surrounded by such prominences as Captain Point, Litchtenberg Mountain, Mt. McCausland, Eagle Rock, and Scrabble Mountain. Such evocative names must have a story. Much to our surprise, we were unable to dig up much in the way of history beyond vague hints of a once-expansive trail system branching off from Johnson Ridge. It would seem that remnants of trails can still be found leading out to Mt. Fernow, Alpine Baldy and Beckler Peak. Perhaps the section that sees the most traffic is the Kelley Creek Trail, running between Captain Point and Scorpion Mountain, still used by a few intrepid hikers a year.

The Johnson Ridge Trail #1067 begins steeply, following a decommissioned logging road for a third of a mile before a short but steep ascent to the ridgeline. Once on the ridgeline the route continues upward, slowly transitioning out of logged scrublands into second-generation forest. Eventually the trail enters extended sections of sub-alpine old growth fir and hemlock just as you gain the summit of Sunrise Mountain. From here you can see the meadows of Scorpion Mountain less than two miles distant, along with a view of distant mountain tops to the north. Sunrise makes a fine stopping point for those looking for a shorter hike or something less challenging. From here, this hike gets a little tough.

From the summit, the trail immediately plummets a few hundred feet down the side of Sunrise to follow a saddle to the foot of Scorpion. Forgoing any pretense of a switchback, the trail heads straight up the mountainside, gaining 500ft in a third of a mile to reach the edge of the meadows. Depending on the time of year, the meadows could be covered in yellow glacier lilies, the reddening leaves of autumn huckleberries, or buried beneath a blanket of snow. Take in the meadows as you push onward to a junction. Here, the trail splits, one way leading down to the shores of Joan Lake and the other up a short spur trail to the summit and the biggest prize of the hike: the view.

The 360-degree views of the Central Cascades from Scorpion Mountain are stunning. Look to the north to nearby Evergreen Mountain and try to find the fire lookout. Fortune Mountain is just to the right of Evergreen and Benchmark Mountain just beyond. In the distance pick out the sharp-tipped Sloan Peak as well as the unmistakable Glacier Peak. Turn to the east to pick out Scrabble Mountain and Mt. McCausland. The craggy top of Mt. Fernow is immediately to the south flanked by Captain Point on the left and Beckler Peak on the right. In the distance you can make out the loftier heights of Mt. Daniel, Mt. Hinman and Cathedral Rock. Continuing to the west is Mt. Index, Baring Mountain, Gunn Peak, Spire Mountain, and finally Troublesome Mountain, just to the left of Evergreen Mountain where we began.

This can be a challenging hike. The elevation gain is not insignificant, especially with all the ups and downs. While not an ideal hike for the whole family, many hikers should be able to navigate the sometimes rough trail to the top. The amazing views Scorpion Mountain offers are more than worth the extra workout. The lengthy drive down forest roads keeps this hike a little under the radar, so don’t expect to be sharing the views with a lot of company.

To get there, take Highway 2 out past Skykomish to milepost 50. Take a left onto FR 65, also known as the Beckler River Road. Continue for almost seven miles to a junction, taking a sharp right up FR 6520 and following it for almost three miles to an unsigned junction. Veer left here, continuing on FR 6520 for another four miles to the next junction. Here, take a right up FR 6526 and follow it for about a quarter mile to the last junction, taking a left up to a small trailhead at road’s end. -Nathan


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Greenwater and Echo Lakes Trail #1176

Our Hiking Time: 5h 40m round trip to Echo
Total Ascent: 500ft to Greenwater, 1900ft (1600ft in and 300ft out) to Echo
Highest Point: 3000ft to Greenwater, 4100ft to Echo
Total Distance: 4 miles round trip to Greenwater, 13.0 miles round trip to Echo
Location: N 47° 5.2500, W 121° 26.8740
Difficulty: Easy to Greenwater, Moderate to Echo



This week we headed out toward Crystal Mountain and Highway 410 to explore the Greenwater Lakes Trail out to Echo Lake. Because this area is extremely popular for both hiking and camping during the summer, we planned an early start to try and get the jump on the crowds on a sunny weekend. We managed our early start, but not avoiding the crowds – the parking lot was already packed by the time we geared up.

The Greenwater River is your constant companion on this hike, and it begins near Naches Pass in the Norse Peak Wilderness, flows down into Hidden Lake, drains out to Echo Lake and then down Greenwater Lakes before eventually merging with the White River near the town of Greenwater. Naches Pass has long been a route though the Cascades, with the earliest recorded crossing following Native American trails in 1841. Since that time the desire to build a more permanent road over the pass has been nearly constant. A series of attempts to build a road resulted in a short-lived wagon route completed in 1853 that was almost immediately abandoned for Snoqualmie Pass. Still, the dream did not die. Proposed plans for a route over the pass were actually codified into Washington law in the 1970s, making the non-existent State Route 168 officially part of the state highway system. Today, the highway would run right through the Norse Peak Wilderness – over 50,000 acres of wildness set aside in 1984.

From the trailhead the hike begins on a very wide, gentle trail. The first two miles to Greenwater Lakes is almost entirely flat, helping to quickly pull you deeper into the forest. Expect to cross half-a-dozen bridges along the way, as the trail follows the path of least resistance up the river valley. Before long, you’ll find yourself at the first of the Greenwater Lakes, which tends to feel a little more like a widening in the river than a true lake. A few campsites can be found here if you follow small side trails around the lake.

Continue a few tenths of a mile to upper Greenwater Lake and beyond the Norse Peak Wilderness boundary. Here the trail temporarily leaves the banks of the river, the forest transitions away from alders and vine maples toward old growth firs and cedars while the crowds begin to thin. The trail becomes a little rockier and steeper, though it is still very well-maintained. Past the boundary the trail hits a junction with the Lost Lake Trail #1185, heading up to the right. Continue to the left for Echo Lake. Now the grade becomes more challenging as the trail climbs a ridge above the Greenwater River. Near the top of the rise the Maggie Creek Trail #1186 splits off to the left. Keep climbing to the top and down the other side to Echo Lake. The forested shores of the lake do not offer huge views, but there are plenty of campsites along the lake. From here, if you’re looking for a longer, more challenging day, you can continue onward to Noble Knob and Corral Pass.

Rushing rivers, placid lakes, and wild forests continue to bring hikers out to the Greenwater Lakes trail. The hike out to Greenwater Lakes is very approachable for any almost anyone. This makes it a great option for young campers on their first overnight or backpacking experience. Beyond the lakes the trail does become more difficult, gaining a fair amount of elevation, so be prepared for more of a workout. Those looking to get away from the crowds will want to avoid this approach to Echo Lake, which can also be accessed via the Corral Pass trailhead. Still, we definitely recommended this hike for getting the whole family on the trail or getting those reluctant friends out on a hike.

To get there, take I-5 south to Highway 18 Exit 142A. Follow Highway 18 into Auburn and take the SR 164 exit. Head left on SR 164 through Enumclaw to SR 410. Turn left onto SR 410 and drive about 20 miles through the town of Greenwater, past the fire station to FR 70 on the left. Follow FR 70 a little over nine miles to FR 7033. Take a right and follow the road to the trailhead. NW Forest Pass Required. -Nathan


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Goat Lake - Elliott Creek Loop Trail #647

Our Hiking Time: 5h 30m
Total Ascent: 1600ft
Highest Point: 3200ft
Total Distance: 10.5 miles
Location: N 48° 1.1040, W 121° 20.9640
Difficulty: Moderate



This week found us back out on the Mountain Loop Highway trekking up the Elliot Creek Trail to Goat Lake. A sunny summer day was the perfect chance to tackle a popular hike that has something for everyone – history, waterfalls, and an alpine lake. It felt like maybe, just maybe, summer had finally arrived.

Goat Lake sits in a cirque surrounded by Sloan, Foggy, and Cadet Peaks within the 102,673 acre Henry M. Jackson Wilderness. Originally named “Sweetleehachu" by the Sauk Indians, miners gave the lake its current name in reference to the mountain goats that roamed the basin’s steep slopes in the early 1890s. As prospectors rushed into Monte Cristo and Mineral City hoping to find gold, they branched out into areas like Goat Lake hoping to strike it rich. The first claims in the basin date back to 1891, quickly followed by a road built by the Penn Mining Company in 1895. Many tunnels were dug into Cadet Peak and Foggy Peak, though these mines produced mostly lead, silver and zinc and very little gold. A small mining town sprang up near the lake outlet, anchored by the Penn Mining Company offices and workers cabins, as well as a lodge that operated from 1927 to 1936 by the MacIntosh family. The 266ft waterfall just below Goat Lake is named MacIntosh Falls in honor of the family. By the 1940s the buildings were abandoned and largely forgotten, until an avalanche swept most of the buildings into the lake. Today a few structures still remain, though the bridge across Elliott Creek has long since washed away making it a little difficult to explore the former townsite.

Elliott Creek Trail #647 begins easily, following the remains of the mining road that once provided access to the lake. Within the first half-mile you’ll find signs pointing to Upper and Lower Elliot. Lower Elliot follows the creek and is about a mile shorter than the upper trail. However, the upper trail is a smoother trail, and is little easier to navigate than the lower trail. We recommend braving the rockier, muddier, and more picturesque lower trail on the way out to the lake. Save the Upper trail for your return trip when the extra mile might be worth a little less strain on your knees.

Either way you’ll cross a number of streams and bubbling cascades along the way, as the forest slowly transitions from alder, fern and bleeding heart to old-growth cedar and moss-covered fir. At three and a half miles you’ll enter the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness, and trade any semblance of road for a winding trail. Continue another mile or so to the roaring MacIntosh Falls, following the faint trails out to get a closer look. Linger here for a few minutes or push up the few remaining switchbacks to Goat Lake. Once you reach the lakeshore, follow the increasingly faint trail until you find a quiet place to settle down and have a snack. Cadet Peak sits at the far end of the lake next to Foggy Peak. If you’re willing to brave the overgrown trail out to the end, you’ll find Bridal Veil Falls tumbling down the cliffs of Sloan Peak.

Popular with both day hikers and backpackers, Goat Lake sees some significant traffic on summer weekends. And it’s easy to see why. While the trail is on the longer side, the grade is mostly gentle and the trail is clear and well-maintained, making this hike approachable for most hikers. The destination is stunning; on a sunny day the reflection of snow-covered mountaintops in the lake is an impressive sight. And, if that wasn’t enough, getting a close-up look at massive MacIntosh Falls is more than worth a four mile hike. We recommend this hike for almost everyone, though be prepared to share the views if you go on a weekend.

To get there, take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 for about two miles. Stay in the left lane and merge onto Lake Stevens Highway 204. Follow for two miles to Highway 9. Take the left onto Highway 9 toward Lake Stevens. In just under two miles, you’ll reach Highway 92 to Granite Falls. Take a right and follow for about nine miles to the Mountain Loop Highway. Follow the MLH for a little over 30 miles to the end of the pavement. Continue another three and a half miles to FR 4080. Take a right and follow FR 4080 about a mile to the Elliot Creek Trailhead. Northwest Forest Pass required. – Nathan




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Thorp Mountain Lookout via Thorp Creek Trail #1316

Our Hiking Time: 5h 20m
Total Ascent: 2300ft
Highest Point: 5854ft
Total Distance: 6.5 miles
Location: N 47° 22.2420, W 121° 12.5160
Difficulty: Hard



After all the luck we had dodging late snows up on Hex Mountain, when another sunny hiking day presented itself we headed back out over Snoqualmie Pass to continue exploring the trails around Cle Elum Lake. This time we set our sights on the long approach to Thorp Mountain Lookout hoping for some big views off of Kachess Ridge – we were not disappointed.

Thorp Mountain, along with Thorp Lake and Thorp Creek, are all named after Fielding Mortimer Thorp, an early pioneer in the Yakima Valley. Often attributed as the first permanent settler in the Valley in 1860, Thorp also went on in 1885 to found a small town. Years later, the town would be named Thorp by the Northern Pacific Railroad in honor of another member of the Thorp family. In the early 1930s, the US Forest Service built a fire lookout on the summit of Thorp Mountain, along with lookouts on nearby Jolly Mountain and Red Mountain. Today only the Thorp Lookout remains, still staffed by the Forest Service a few months out of the year.

Most hikers approach Thorp Mountain from the Knox Creek Trailhead, which is both shorter and easier than the Thorp Creek Trail we hiked. Currently, this route is made more complicated by the absence of a bridge over Thorp Creek near the trailhead. The creek might be friendlier in a few weeks after this year’s belated thaw, but currently it’s knee-deep, fast-flowing and ice-cold. Cross with caution.

Once across follow a converted logging road as it parallels the creek and takes you through recovering clearcuts. Slide alders and huckleberries line the trail, rising above the grass and brush that cannot quite disguise acres of bleached snags and stumps. Younger firs and pines eventually begin to appear, making this area more attractive to wildlife – we managed to stumble upon some elk and deer on our way up. Soon the trail begins in earnest, quickly transitioning from mild switchbacks to steeper grades.

Alas, we were not able to evade the lingering snows. We quickly lost the trail and found ourselves slogging up the icy mountainside. Still, we found the junction leading the half-mile down to Thorp Lake but chose to forge on to the ridgeline, and the rocky climb up to the lookout. This last stretch is a little steep, but the expansive views from the lookout are more than worth it. Mount Rainier rose above the shimmering blue of Kachess Lake. Nearby Red Mountain is easy to pick out to the northeast. Below, Thorp Lake is nestled amongst the trees. And beyond, the horizon is filled with hundreds of snow-topped peaks. Find a spot to settle down to take it all in.

We liked this approach. It was a little more difficult, but it definitely made up for it in solitude. It also offers the possibility of making a loop out to the summit of Red Mountain following trails once used to connect the lookouts. The parts of the trail that were not covered in snow were in pretty good shape, but it’s still probably not for everyone. With over 2000ft of elevation in a little over three miles, it will definitely give your legs a work out. If you’re looking for a quiet alternative to a popular destination with some amazing views, give Thorp Creek Trail a try.

To get there, take I-90 to Exit 80. Head left over the freeway following Bullfrog Road to SR 903. Follow 903 for 16 miles through Roslyn and along Cle Elum Lake to FR 4308. Turn left onto FR 4308 and follow a little over 3 miles to a signed intersection. Head right down FR 4312 for the Thorp Creek Trail. Continue on FR 4312 for a mile and a half to a gated spur veering to the right. Find a spot to park here and hit the trail. –Nathan


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