Length: 2.6 Miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1289' Elevation gain
Season: Summer thru Fall
Difficulty: Difficult
Permit: No Pass Requirement
Features:
Siouxon Peak is a steep but rewarding
hike. A hiker can reach this summit
via several routes, but this CD will
examine only 2. The easiest option
is to drive to the end of Forest Road
6403 where you are faced with a mere
1.3 mile hike to the top. The other
option on this CD is to come from
the Siouxon Creek valley.
Climbing Siouxon (pronounced Sue-sawn)
is a difficult task regardless of
which trail head you select. If you
begin your hike at the Siouxon Creek
trail head, you have first to hike up
Siouxon Creek for about 4 miles before
you begin the arduous task of climbing
out of the valley to the upper trail
head, then climbing to the top.
In order to reach Siouxon Peak from
the creek, you are faced with wading
across Chinook Creek, which at best
is knee deep and about 50 feet across.
Chinook Creek Falls is beside you,
creating a beautiful scene to enjoy
while you negotiate the creek. It
would be wise to carry some wading
shoes with you on this hike.
As soon as you cross the creek, the
trail gets very steep and remains that
way for about a mile. Eventually the
trail follows an old logging road and
is far more level. At about 3 miles
you will come to the other optional
trail head.
At this point you begin to hike the
last 1.3 miles and climb nearly 1300'.
The trail continues to follow an old
logging road that was used to access
the fire lookout tower that used to
be on top of Siouxon Peak. It is
this last part of the hike that you
get really outstanding views of the
surrounding valleys and mountains.
Mt Adams to the east, Mr Rainier to
the north, and Mt St Helens to the
northwest are viewed along this part
of the hike. At about a mile from
the 2nd trail head, the trail leaves
the old road bed and climbs steeply
to the north side of the peak, then
follows around to the west side where
it finally climbs to the top.
Trees on the northwest side of the
peak prevent you from seeing Mt St
Helens from the top, but views to
the north, east, and south are
outstanding.
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