Rising to an elevation of 8242 feet, Tiffany Mountain is a lofty summit and one of the highest peaks in the Cascades that can be easily hiked. With a trailhead at 6500 feet, not much sweat needs to be expended to reach Tiffany's rocky and grassy wide-open summit. Centerpiece to the highlands sharing its name, Tiffany hovers over a windswept world of flower-bursting meadows and delicate alpine tundra at the extreme eastern reaches of the Cascades. Once the domain of solitary sheepherders, Tiffany now hosts intrepid hikers and solitude seekers.
Beginning at Freezeout Pass, Trail No. 345 takes off up Freezeout Ridge through an open and mature forest of lodgepole and whitebark pine. By late July the trail is lined with lupine, providing a purple pathway to the prominent peak. Arnica, daisies, and groundsell add golden touches.
After about 1.5 miles of gentle climbing, forest yields to flower-filled meadows punctuated with patches of krummholz (densely matted trees stunted by wind and snow). Swaying grasses and sedges engulf the dwarfed and contorted clumps of fir and pine. Lift your eyes from the bonsai forests and golden lawns and note Tiffany's summit cone coming into view. The trail skirts beneath it, traversing the mountain's wide-open southern slopes and arriving at a junction at 2.5 miles (elev. 7700 ft). Turn left, following light tread 0.5 mile to reach the heavens.
At this lofty altitude, the elements can be extreme, making it quite difficult for plants to survive. But the alpine flora has adapted well, taking refuge behind weather-beaten boulders and in small protective depressions. Particularly striking are clusters of juniper clinging to lichen-encrusted rocks and outcrops. Now, lift your nose up from the ground once more. It's time to take in the horizon-spanning views from Tiffany's airy summit. In every direction an inspiring landscape unfolds. To the north are a panorama of Pasayten peaks, the Loomis country, and British Columbia's Snowy Mountain, and 1000 feet directly below is a little tarn in a stark cirque. Look south over high rolling ridges out toward Loup Loup Pass and the Beaver Meadow country. To the east the Okanogan Highlands bake in the sun. And west, the North Cascades crowd the skyline. It's a pretty big payoff for such a moderate effort.
I got away with it again, residing at 8242’ without any casualties; no storms threatened to blow the tent off...
I got away with it again, residing at 8242’ without any casualties; no storms threatened to blow the tent off the mountain, or zap us with 100% natural electricity; no pots were whisked off the precipitous NE face. Sure it was cold in the morning, but being on a summit one could always find a seat in the sun after 6a. Another great feature was there were absolutely no biting pests.
It should only take an hour to reach Tiffany’s tip-top from 6520’ Freeze out Pass with a full pack, but I volunteered some time to update the monkeywrenching of horse-braided trails on the way up; and Bodhran spent some time cautiously investigating some “slow elk” grazing on the ridge. Another 90 minutes was spent packing 6 gallons of spring water from 1000’ below for our 2 night stay. Five gallons would have been plenty for man and beast.
A forest fire sprang to life the first afternoon between Mount McCay and Omak. That blustery night it was a sinister orange glow. By Saturday it had blanketed the whole of the Okanogan valley up to Tiffany summit in the south-westerly breeze. Staying just east of the summit ridgeline guaranteed fresh air, so it was not a bother.
Bodhran and I rambled to Rock Mountain via the saddle north of Tiffany summit. From there an old grazing trail leads downward through groves of Larch and charred spars to Honeymoon Pass at 7200’. A cross-country climb on grassy slopes, past more cattle, brought us to the summit. The object of my curiosity was a solar-powered radio relay visible from Tiffany. There is also a register in the summit cairn.
Tiffany is an amazingly quiet place considering its easy access and spectacular views. I saw only 5 other groups during the three days. There was plenty of time to ponder various raptors, including a Golden Eagle; or the setting crescent moon, all in magnificent quiet.
Tiffany is the last of my regular stops for awhile; time to step off the ribbon of dirt into the unknown. September offers cooler bug-free travel. I am excited, but as always, mindful of the dragons at the edge of the map.
Great hike near Winthrop! Most of the more famous hikes in the area, like Cutthroat Pass or Maple Pass, are...
Great hike near Winthrop! Most of the more famous hikes in the area, like Cutthroat Pass or Maple Pass, are west of town up the North Cascades Hwy. We decided to do a hike east of town, up East Chewuch River Rd, then about 45 mins driving out dirt roads in a northeasterly direction.
There was a burn recently, so recently that the 2008 hiking book we had didn't mention it, but the road and trail are fine. There must have been quite a bit of trail maintenance in the last year to open the trail back up after the burn. Don't let this dissuade you, the trail only stays in the burned areas for the first section and then it's gorgeous.
The hike starts from Freezeout Pass, which is appropriate since it's at 6500 ft, and it did snow on us a little on this end-of-August day. The trail proceeds up through the burn, then out of the burn into lightly forested meadows, and finally up into high open meadows at over 8200 ft. The views go on forever.
There were very few people on this trail, despite it being a holiday weekend.
We arrived at Freezeout Pass trailhead(6500ft) around 10am. Despite all the hot weather the week before our time in...
We arrived at Freezeout Pass trailhead(6500ft) around 10am. Despite all the hot weather the week before our time in the Methow Valley was quite pleasant. The temp at the pass was a little chilly so we put our dtr Lili into her snowsuit! The trail climbs through the trees for about a mile and a half. We broke out into grassy meadows and followed them for about a mile. The flowers and views were spectacular! The lupine was so pretty as were all the flowers! We ascended the last half mile to the summit of Tiffany Mt. which was a former fire lookout. We reached it about 11:30am A marmot sat on the topmost rock of the 8242ft summit. He had the right idea!! What a view! The 360 degree panorama included the North Cascades, Sawtooth range, Pasayten wilderness, views down to the Methow Valley, Omak and Tonasket! Not a soul in sight! Lili(age 2 and a half) was impressed with the elevation too! She broke her old record of 7,000ft(Goat Peak)! After lunch we meandered down. Lili snoozed in her pack as hubby and I took scads of pics amongst the flowers! We dreamed of the day we'd come back and bivy on the top! Started down and ran into a party of 6 or so!(around 12:45pm) Reached the truck around 1:45pm. Total mileage 6miles and 1700ft gain...short, sweet and quite a payoff! Great for those who may be infant or toddler impaired and are elevation starved parents like us! No bugs, slight breeze, sun in and out so not too hot and the best views ever! Oh and the meadows and ridges go on forever! Halley/Joey and Liliana
Re-posted to correct errant trail reference; note original trip date below.
Tiffany Mountain via Freezout Ridge
Aug 05, 2000
by D. Inscho...
Re-posted to correct errant trail reference; note original trip date below.
Tiffany Mountain via Freezout Ridge
Aug 05, 2000
by D. Inscho
Tiffany mtn. is a high, meadowed island set apart from the main Cascades so it offers wonderful views all around from the non-technical 8200+' summit. It is popular with dayhikers but expansive grassy meadows are hardly used by overnighters, probably because of the perceived lack of water. The trail starts high in lodgepole pine and breaks out into wonderful vistas after the first mile. Another mile will get you nearly to the summit. The tread is in OK shape with some horse & bike traffic, and braiding/cutting. Wild flowers are abundant in low spots with paintbrush fading. Some horseflies but they are mostly ineffectual, modest mosquito count at sunset. Water may be found in the lower meadows south of the summit, below the trail. Several springs present all summer with good water. I have yet to filter or treat it. Explorations abound in the meadows; I found an old USFS bathtub south of the trail near the first meadow on the way in. It is made of wood slats and used to be fed by a hose that leads to a silted up spring pool. It would easily fit 4 people and looks to be in workable condition; with a little mucking of the plumbing it may work again. Backcountry coldtub! There is also the Bernhardt Mine; explore the wonder of those crazy miners.
From Winthrop head north on East Chewuch River Road (County Road 9137) toward Pearrygin Lake State Park. In 6.5 miles (just before the road crosses the Chewuch River), turn right onto paved Forest Road 37. The pavement ends at 7.5 miles, and at 13 miles come to a junction. Turn left onto FR 39, following this sometimes rough road for 3.2 miles to Freezeout Pass (at a cattle guard). The trailhead and limited parking are on the right side of the road (elev. 6500 ft).
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