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Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Sleeping Beauty Mountain Hike
Hike 71



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Topo USA 5.0

Length: 2.8 Miles round trip
Elevation Change: 1400' Elevation gain
Season: Summer thru Fall
Difficulty:   Difficult
Permit:   No Pass Requirement
Features: Talk about bang for your buck, this little hike is a real gem tucked away in a mostly logged area. The trail begins off Forest Road #040, which is just a short ways off FR #88.

This trail begins climbing very steeply right at the beginning and doesn't actually let up until you reach the ridge line next to the summit. The entire hike is within dense forest, and that shouldn't matter as you will be too busy trying to breathe, so you wont notice the lack of scenery.

At about a mile you will level out on the ridge and after you get your heart rate in control, you can follow the trail up the extremely steep north side of the peak. In places the trail has been carved into the mountain to make it possible to reach the top without technical gear.

Oh, but when you reach the top, what a reward. After you wipe the sweat from your eyes they will drink in more beauty than they can hold. You will be able to see all the local Cascade Volcanos, including Mt Rainier to the north, Mt Adams just a short distance away to the northeast, Mt Hood to the south in Oregon, and of course good ol Mt St Helens to your west.


A Virtual Hike in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest

All for the love of hiking!