THREE HIKING SISTERS, we love to hike together, but we don't all live in the same state. Sometimes it is only two of us, and sometimes we hike with others. This is a record of some of our hikes.
Showing posts with label 4.5 mile hike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4.5 mile hike. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Thorp Mountain Lookout via Knox Creek
We drove up to the Knox Creek Trailhead off of FSR 1315.1 (which is off of French Cabin Road north of Cle Elum Lake) to hike up to Thorp Mountain Lookout, overall 4.5 miles round trip with 1,700 ft of gain. It was a beautiful sunny and hot day. Besides gorgeous views we saw some wildflowers and many ripe huckleberries. There is no longer a sign marking the start of the trail, it is across the road from the parking pull out. The first part of the trail was very brushy, with lots of cascade asters in bloom along with sitka mountain ash colored with orange berries.
Views from the other side of the ridge, continuing up towards the lookout
Above: zoom of Mt Rainier
Above: zoom of Mount Stuart and other Enchantment Peaks to the northeast. Below: Fire Lookout on Thorp Mountain
Above: Other Cascade Peaks to the north. Below: looking down on Thorp Lake to the east
Above: view of Kachess Lake and Mt Rainier to the southwest. Below: back in the flowered filled meadow as we descend down to the trailhead and one of the many butterflies we saw among the flowers today
some of the wildflowers and berries we saw along the trail today:
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Badger Valley Grand Ridge Loop
We drove out to the end of Obstruction Point Road from Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park to hike down into Badger Valley unti we reachec the Elk Mountain Trail up to Grand Ridge and returned along the Obstruction Point-Deer Park Trail to Obstruction Point, 4.5 miles with 1,300 ft of overall gain. We saw wildflowers and marmots and incredible views! Hazy view from Hurricane Hill before driving Obstruction Point Road. 
View from the parking area at Obstruction Point, and zoom of Mount Olympus
Heading to the Badger Valley Trail
As we hiked down into Badger Valley, we would go through some patches of wildflowers, especially where there were water drainages, we also saw butterflies and marmots.
We waited at the start of the Elk Mountain Trail before going up as a large marmot was blocking the trail.
The Elk Mountain Trail was steep, alternating between meadows, trees and open slopes.
Views along Grand Ridge returning towards Obstuction Point
Above: looking back down into Badger Valley. Below: continuing to Obstruction Point
some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today:
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