CAN’T MISS: Mountain goats are often visible from a distance, casually grazing on precariously steep summit slopes. We walked the 4 miles back to the PCT and #96 junction, and continued south on the PCT. You’ll want to pack all of the gear and food that you’ll need for your length of time there. Having said that, only once have I met more than a couple of people while hiking to this lake. From there, you might as well hike an additional 0.8 miles up to the top of Old Snowy Mountain (7,900 feet) to get the best vistas and to appreciate the rest of the Goat Rocks Wilderness. After that, we still had a couple hours of daylight left, so we decided to continue up #96 for a ways and catch a glimpse of what the next day’s hike had in store for us. Kettlebell Videos and Fitness Instruction. The Snowgrass Flats TH is at 4600' and will frequently be inaccessible in winter. Adams from our campsite. Some trailheads require a valid recreation pass. Permit: NW Forest Pass Required Features: NEW! Along the way, we stopped at the US Forest Service Ranger Station in Randle, WA to obtain our forest pass, ask some general information about the area, and buy a hiking book. We continued up #96 for another mile or so until we found an excellent campsite. When you reach the PCT, bear right and follow it another 3 miles to Cispus Pass. Wilderness permit required. THE WAY: Trailheads to the west and central sections of the wilderness are off US 12, 16 miles east of Packwood. Stop here to fill out the wilderness permit that is needed to enter the area. About a half mile farther #96 converged with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and we beheld one of the most beautiful alpine meadows you could imagine. We easily found the Snowgrass Trailhead (#96), and began our 4.1 mile, 1600-ft elevation gain to Snowgrass Flats, the first destination of our walking journey. Leave vehicle(s) here in an overnight parking area in the middle of the campground next to the vault toilet. The Johnson Peak area, accessible to strong hikers from the Lily Basin and Angry Mountain trails, offers relative solitude. With the vehicle parked and our gear on our backs, we were ready to start! Thanks Pam, it was so pretty there that it was easy to get some great photos! 51st Circle Vancouver, WA 98682 Voice: 360-891-5000 Forest Service Administrative Unit (s): Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6) -- Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mt. With the mandatory wilderness permit, camping is permitted in the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Second, I had to hike back UP the mountain between Goat Rocks and White Pass, about 1500 feet. Top it off with views of mammoth volcanoes, and you’ll know why Goat Rocks Wilderness rates as one of the most scenic stretches of wilderness along the Pacific Crest Trail. I’m in great shape, but I was definitely challenged by carrying that load. We set up what would be our base camp for the next 2 nights, ate a meal, and stared in awe at our view of Mt. Once upon a long time ago, the Goat Rocks were part of a 12,000-foot volcano. Elevation Range: 2,240 - 8,184 feet. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. You can also attain them at the Forest Service Ranger Station in Randle, Washington. Please contact the PSD person identified above for additional PSD permitting information for this Wilderness. Additional PSD Information. The problems are not new. Turn there, and follow that road for about 12 miles, then turn left on Forest Road 2150. I recently had the opportunity to do one of the most challenging and scenic hikes I’ve ever done. CROWD CONTROL: Scenic Snowgrass Flat is thick with backpackers, especially late August through early September. Whether we did or didn’t actually need the Forest Pass, it’s worth it to support this pristine and beautiful wilderness – and for the peace of mind that your car will be there without a fine on the return trip. Less than 100 yards down the route, you'll need to fill out a Goat Rocks Wilderness permit (they're free, and kids might be interested in helping the group out by completing it). We trotted along this forest path at an initially easy pace uphill, and it gradually got to be harder. On the other hand, we were headed back to civilization, and away from one of the most beautiful places, and beautiful weekends I’ve ever had. Five Early-Season Hikes to Escape the Deep Freeze, Forest Road Wilderness: Why You Should Try Bikepacking, Lose the Crowds at these Stellar Second-Bests, Thoughts Before a Calendar Year Triple Crown, Sweeten Up Your Spring With These Wild Honeysuckle Recipes, Sunday Afternoon Kids’ Ultra Adventure Storm Hat. Its highest peak, first ascended by Fred G. Plumm… Completing a somewhat arduous car shuttle is imperative for this itinerary. 6000-6500 ft (1800-2000 m) Administration: Gifford Pinchot National Forest / Yakama Indian Nation. Goat Rocks Wilderness has been on my to-do list for quite sometime, as I continually hear about it's beauty and grandeur. Area Of Operation. The last half mile or so turned into a boulder field that you have to scramble up in order to reach the summit. The Goat Rocks Wilderness, covering approximately 105,000 acres, is located in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Or stretch your legs and head for the sky on the 11-mile Lily Basin Trail or the steep, 9-mile Angry Mountain Trail. (Sno-Park Permit from November-April) The Goat Rocks are the eroded remnants of a … Above: Goat Lake in the distance, excited about the last day of trekking. The next morning after breakfast, we gathered the items we needed into day packs, and set off on a 4 mile hike from our campsite to climb the summit of Old Snowy. Considering the competition-the Sierra and North Cascades, for example-this is not a minor boast. The ridge to the west of Curtis Gilbert is capped with several basalt horns rated as technical, Class 4 pitches. Mountain Conditions For additional information you may contact: Gifford Pinchot National Forest 10600 N.E. We decided to head over to Cispus Basin to see the waterfalls that we heard about from other hikers. The loop option is fairly defined with a starting point at the Berry Patch or Snowgrass Flats Trailheads. By reading the permit, they can verify that you actually got to the trailhead, and get an idea of where you planned to go on your trip. Then, we headed east on US 12 for roughly 62 miles. In just a few yards from the trailhead is the junction. The final leg of our hike through the forest was a slow plod. St. Helens in full view at the same time. Some 31 miles of the Mexico-to-Canada PCT wind through the marshy lowlands, deep forests, and jagged remnants of prehistoric volcanic vents that characterize this 105,000-acre wilderness, but it’s by no means the only road to this show. Land surrounding Goat Rocks was first protected by the United States Department of Agriculture in February 1931, when approximately 18,009 hectares (44,501 acres) was set aside for preservation. View our Recreation Passes and Permits page for details. Early trails were the result of exploration, prospecting, and cattle and sheep grazing. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It’s late August and it’s frozen! The Lilly Basin Trailhead has very limited parking. After climbing down from Old Snowy, we decided that there was enough time left in the day for a few more miles of hiking. First, I had to hike back UP from Snow Grass Flats to the Goat Rocks, about 1500 feet. This hike to Goat Lake via Goat Ridge follows Trail #95 from the Trail Head on Forest Road #2150.040 near what is referred to as the Berry Patch. Adams, Mt. The trail trends northeast through forest to a ridgeline, offering views of the verdant Goat Creek Basin and nearby Old Snowy, the 7,930-foot remnant of an extinct, 12,000-foot, 2-million-year-old volcano. Take A Hike: Mt. Know that any unnecessary items you bring are going to feel very heavy! About three miles before Packwood watch for Forest Road 21 on your right. Nestled between snow-capped Mount Rainier and Mount Adams, the Goat Rocks’ reputation for stunning scenery and relative proximity to population centers, such as Southwest Washington and Portland, Oregon, draws more adventure-seekers every year. Swimming wasn’t in order, but the views were magnificent! At the summit of Old Snowy we caught fantastic views of Goat Lake, where we would be hiking to the next day, and of Mt. If you’re seeking solitude, you can usually find it in the Coyote Lake area, a rigorous 6-mile hike up the Clear Fork Trail. Above: I took this self portrait on the Goat Lake trail, I was hoping that this shot would capture how high up and vast it was here. Beginning in 1998 there will be a quota on permits during heavy usage seasons, and there will be a small fee; permits will be available at ranger stations and certain outdoor outfitters. Follow this and then keep right on 2150/040, then turn right again on 2150/405. Information Center: Named for the animals that roam its wilderness, Goat Rocks is an area of approximately 100,000 acres in size located in southeast Washington State (in the Cascades). There is no way you’ll be able to carry all of the water that you’ll need. Be smart about what you take in. The self-issuing permits are free and available at all trailheads leading into the wilderness areas. Curtis Gilbert can be bagged by a challenging but nontechnical ascent. Mt. Three night backpacking trip in the Snowgrass Flats/Lily Basin area in Goat Rocks Wilderness Day 1 – hike in to Snowgrass Flat/Lily Basin area. Above: We finally arrived at Goat Lake sans any goats. Click for PDF Topo Map of this Hike . https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/washington/goat-rocks-wilderness That didn’t bother us one bit. This area is aptly named after the mountain goats that populate it. To get there, we headed west on the PCT from where it joined #96. Approximately three miles later, through more forest, past boulder fields of chirping pikas, and a view across the breathtaking Cispus Basin, we stopped at a waterfall to have a rest and decided that it was time to head back into camp for the night. Because the snow was still there in August, you will probably want to be prepared with crampons and a pick if you go earlier in the year. 4.5 miles with 1,550 ft. gain. © 2021 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. As you follow the bypass trail, you will encounter some of the most amazing floral displays anywhere in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, if you get there in mid-July. Sleeping bag – Possibly with compression sack, Carabiners/Straps for attaching gear to bag, Shovel/Spade – To cover or bury body waste. Walk.7 mile to the self-issue permit station at the Berry Patch trailhead (2) and ascend 1,120 feet in 1.2 miles to Goat Ridge. The trail head is along US Hwy 12 just a bit east of White Pass. User Fees: Northwest Forest Pass required for parking. Adams is in the background. Add lack of permit requirements and it's equi-distance between Portland and Seattle made it an irresistible destination. Although the wilderness is protected by law, conservation concerns have increased in the past two decades because of challenges due to global warming, wildfires, the threats to wildlife habitat preservation, logging, and other issues related to forest ecosystems. Old Snowy is a half-day excursion from Snowgrass Flat, itself a 6-mile, 1,800-foot grunt up Snowgrass Trail from the nearest trailhead. But, I was determined. Size: 107018 acres. Permit: NW Forest Pass Required Beargrass Bloom: 2018 GPS: N46 28.008, W121 31.662 Latitude: 46.4668 Longitude: -121.5277 Features: NEW! Whether we did or didn’t actually need the Forest Pass, it’s worth it to support this pristine and beautiful wilderness – and for the peace of mind that your car will be there without a fine on the return trip. Explore the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Above: From Goat Lake I looked across the basin that we had just traversed. The skies were clear, and we witnessed the grandeur of the Cascades, with Mt. Adams View Lupine Flowered meadows. Some hikers say that the Goat Rocks Wilderness has the best scenery along the entire Pacific Crest … In the distance you can see Old Snowy, the peak center left, that we had just climbed the day before. Flag Report (Federal Land Managers AQRV Group) (4,146 kb—best to download before viewing) . You will definitely need a water purifier. There is a sign for Chambers Lake and Snowgrass Flat, which is where you want to go. The trail is well-marked, and as we crossed several meadows and snow fields, the terrain gradually became more and more rocky. The most popular are Snowgrass Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, which intersect at the flower fields of Snowgrass Flat. WILDERNESS PERMIT. Only about four or five ve… Follow me on Facebook, and Instagram. What I discovered while hiking up those long stretches of … Despite the three-hour drive back to Portland, we were headed back to civilization, a hot shower, and a clean and comfortable bed. Permits are free and self-issued at trailheads. Your pictures are beautiful. DRIVE TIME: Goat Rocks Wilderness is located in southeastern Washington, about 145 miles (31/2 hours) southeast of Seattle and 160 miles (31/2 hours) northeast of Portland. The best collection of kettlebell videos on the internet! An additional 90 miles of trail opens a wide variety of hiking options, like the short scramble from the PCT to the top of 7,930-foot Old Snowy Mountain, which pays off in a panorama dominated by the hulking cones of Mts. Goat Rocks Wilderness is a massive alpine nature sanctuary that has a long geological history and stunning sites. Rainier and Adams. The entire drive from Portland is about 3 hours. 3) There is a $100 fine for not having your Wilderness permit with you in the William O. Douglas and Goat Rocks Wilderness areas. At about 7800 feet, it’s one of the highest peaks in the Goat Rocks and during this leg of our trip we traversed more than 2000 feet of elevation gain. MORE INFORMATION: For west and central region: U.S. Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Packwood Ranger District, 13068 US Highway 12, Packwood, WA 98361; (360) 494-0600. There were mixed emotions as we made it to the car. Rainier, and Mt. Roughly ten miles in all. US Forest Service Ranger Station in Randle, WA, Take A Hike: Columbia River Gorge – Dog Mountain. The trail across the Packwood Glacier, the Knife’s Edge and past Rooster’s Comb can be steep and narrow and it passes by … Goat Rocks DAY 1 Walupt Lake to jct with trail #101 Mt. In a short distance is the boundary sign for the Goat Rocks Wilderness. Adams. On one hand, an exhausting weekend was over. Other than some distracting batches of mosquitoes, my mind didn’t wander too far from wondering about the pain in my knees and if I should take another Aleve. The final day of our expedition arrived. WALK SOFTLY: Cathole human waste at least 100 feet from any water source. Permits are free and self-issued at trailheads. Take A Hike: Crater Lake Planning to spend four nights on this trip, but the views were magnificent easy pace uphill and! From the trailhead them at the Forest into a boulder field that you ’ ll need for your length time! 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