Pacific Crest Trail North from Snoqualmie

I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass. This is a popular access point for the Pacific Crest Trail. We'll work on maintaining the first couple miles of this trail as it heads north from Snoqualmie Pass. We'll address annual maintenance needs, such as brushing and drainage, and repairing tread.

This section of the Pacific Crest Trail is one of the most spectacular parts of the route through the Cascade region and is also the most accessible and popular. It winds north from Snoqualmie Pass, ascending in forest for the first two miles, drops 250 feet to skirt a boulder field, then enters the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. At 2.75 miles it crosses the Commonwealth Basin Trail, switchbacks endlessly upward, passing a creek at 4300 feet, then reaches Kendall Ridge at 4700 feet. From here it is a long traverse around the mountain, the path opening out in Kendall Gardens and the start of alpine color that continues to Spectacle Point. The trail continues along via the Kendall Katwalk--a route blasted across a cliff of solid granite--towards Alaska Mountain at 7.75 miles, and the Huckleberry-Chikamin saddle at 10.25 miles.

Driving directions:
From Seattle drive east on I-90 to exit 52 (Alpental Exit) at Snoqualmie Pass. Take this exit, turn left and go under the freeway. Turn right on paved road, then right again into large parking area just beyond the freeway, where you will find the trailhead. (Driving time from Seattle: approximately 1 hour.)