Length: 12 Miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1600' Elevation gain
Season: Mid-Summer thru Fall
Difficulty: Challenging
Permit: NW Forest Pass Required
Features:
This hike begins off Forest Road #9327-040 which
is a short drive off FR #93. The trail head is
well marked and parking is adequate. Be aware
that this trail permits the use of motor bikes,
so the trail has that distinctive V shape. This
does make the hiking more difficult.
The trail starts fairly level but increases
continually in steepness for the first 3 miles.
In season this hike is surrounded by a grand
display of wildflowers.
At first you will hike along old logging roads
turned trail, but after about a mile things get
steeper and at 2 miles you come to the junction
of Trail #17.
Much of the trail is in dense timber for the first
3 miles, but as you gain elevation you also gain
greater open areas and vistas. At about 3 miles
you will leave a wooded area and you may glimpse
Blue Lake through the trees about 400' below you.
The trail levels off a bit now and for the next
mile or so you will walk through meadows and
open areas and cross an occasional stream. Again
the wildflowers are abundant in season. Not only
will you be offered great views of Mt Adams along
this stretch of trail, but from time to time you
will have glimpses of Mt Rainier, Shark Rock, Kirk
Rock, Craggy Peak, and Mt St Helens.
At about 4 miles you will come to a pond on the
left. The trail then climbs above and away from
the pond offering views of Mt St Helens over the
top of the pond.
At about 5.5 miles you will come to the junction
with Boundary Trail #1. For this narrative I
took the trail to the left and passed Craggy Peak
along the west side. In about 3/4 mile you will
come to the saddle between Craggy Peak and Shark
Rock. It is just a bit further to the base of
Shark Rock where you get excellent views of
Mt Adams and Mt Rainier.
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