Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books Keechelus Ridge Snowshoe
Featured In:
Snowshoe Routes - Washington,
by Dan A. Nelson.
A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails. But this trail isn't all work. Plenty of rewards await the dedicated athletes who point their snowshoes toward the top of this ridge. Best of all, even those who cut their trips short of the top will find the journey pays off tremendously. Views from the route are incredible, and the higher snowshoers go, the better the panoramic scenery. The jumbled peaks of the South Cascades spread away to the southern horizon with Mount Rainier dominating the skyline. A small trail leads northwest from the Sno-Park for a 0.25 mile to Forest Road 4832. Turn left and hike west a couple hundred feet to leave the multi-use crowds behind. (Snowmobilers, skiers, skijorers--skiers pulled by one or more dogs--and even dogsledders use this trail.) Climb to the right onto a small side road, FR 124. This road climbs steeply up the flank of Keechelus Ridge alongside Price Creek for 0.5 mile before angling west away from the creek in a long, looping route that isn't too steep but does cover several miles. You can stick with the road, but a faster, more enjoyable route is to head cross-country up the slope, slicing across old clearcuts and thin stands of forest. The best cross-country "trail" is found about 1.3 miles out from the Sno-Park. As the road rolls farther west away from Price Creek, snowshoe up the slope away from the track, staying right while the road goes left. Parallel Price Creek uphill, but stay on the bench above the stream rather than descending into the brambles alongside it. The slope rolls upward over several small benches and false summits, crossing clearcuts old and new. In light snow years, take care to avoid hooking a snowshoe on some of the brush protruding in the older, grown-over cuts. The climb covers about a mile of distance before crossing another heavily used road, FR 4934, just below the ridge crest (4300 feet). Emerge onto that road at about the same place as FR 124, which finally loops back from its long journey around the ridge flank. Rather than joining FR 4934--a popular snowmobile route that creates a long loop when coupled with several other roads in the area--merely snowshoe across it, and head toward the ridge crest. This last 0.5 mile of climbing is also cross-country travel, although you can follow the road (FR 124) here too, if you are nervous about routefinding on the open ridge. The top is easily identifiable on the approach by tall radio relay towers. Once there, put the towers behind you (thus keeping them out of sight) and enjoy the panoramic vistas of the eastern Cascades. Author’s Rating: More Difficult Some previous snowshoe experience helpful. Some winter survival skills recommended (basic knowledge of avalanche evaluation, emergency shelter construction, etc.). Elevation gain is usually less than 1000 feet with a gradual slope.
Driving Directions:
To get there, from Seattle drive east on Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass to exit 62, signed Kachess Lake, about 10 miles east of the summit. After exiting the interstate, turn left, cross over the freeway, and turn left onto the freeway on-ramp and drive westbound I-90 for 1.5 miles to the Price Creek Westbound Sno-Park. (Although another Sno-Park is located on the other side of the freeway, there is no way to cross the interstate to reach it.) Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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Flickr: http://bit.ly/keechelus-ridge
Read about Keechelus Ridge somewhere a while ago and decided to tackle it today. There were only a few...
Flickr: http://bit.ly/keechelus-ridge
Read about Keechelus Ridge somewhere a while ago and decided to tackle it today. There were only a few cars when we arrived at the parking lot, a couple of of which had a snowmobile hitch. Apparently I had forgotten that this was a snowmobiles' haven in winter. The minute we started hiking I could hear the snowmobiles in the distance. In fear of the running into snowmobilers with the dogs being unleashed, we took shortcuts through the woods to avoid them. When we got to the ridge with the relay radio tower, we were greeted by none other than three snowmobilers. I talked to them for a bit before they headed to other parts of the mountain. Shortly after they left, two more groups of snowmobilers showed up at the ridge. It might as well have been a snowmobile's camp meeting. Thank goodness we didn't run into any more snowmobiles on the road on our way back to the car.
Keechelus Ridge Snowshoe
— Nov 26, 2011
— Adventuretwin
Snowshoe/XC Ski
Issues:
Snow on trail
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Took the three dogs out for my inaugural snowshoe of the season. Keechelus Ridge is a favorite, despite the...
Took the three dogs out for my inaugural snowshoe of the season. Keechelus Ridge is a favorite, despite the snowmobilers.
Warning - at least as of today, the sno-park is not plowed. 4WD required and high wheel base recommended. There were two Subaru Imprezas - they were going to have to work to exit the sno-park for sure. Plenty of snow. Mostly stuck to the fireroad. Veered off trail at the traditional point, at 1.3 miles for a bit, but the lack of tracks, poles and energy had me veering back to the road. At about 2.5 miles my year-old Berner started barking at the woods. Didn't hear anything or see anything, including tracks, but decided it was a decent enough turn-around point for my first time out this season.
Keechelus Ridge Snowshoe
— Apr 23, 2011
— HikerBiker
Day hike
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Road to trailhead inaccessible
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ROAD CLOSED - we tried getting to the trailhead today following the directions here. But the exit from I-90 West...
ROAD CLOSED - we tried getting to the trailhead today following the directions here. But the exit from I-90 West was closed and we didn't see any alternatives to get to the sno-park. We ended up doing anothe hike.
Snowshoe/XC Ski
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Snow on trail
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The Keechelus Ridge Snowshoe route starts from the Price Creek Sno-Park off of I-90. Make sure you have A WA...
The Keechelus Ridge Snowshoe route starts from the Price Creek Sno-Park off of I-90. Make sure you have A WA Winter Rec. Pass. The ticket is $52.
The hike ends at a ridge top where giant radio towers are located.The hike is 6.5 mi. R/T and has an elevation gain of 2,100 ft. It takes approx. 5 hrs. to complete. There are at least two section in which one can go off-road and do some serious climbing until rejoining the road above. On the way up and at the top, the views are great, specially of Keechelus Lake and the mountains to the South. Plenty of snow. It snowed part of the trip, which was beautiful and created a very peaceful atmosphere. Fresh snow on trail and trees was present starting at approx. 3,500 ft. Path was easy to follow even though we were the first ones that day. I would still recommend that anyone going have the ten essentials. If not, at least a map and compass, or GPS. No snowmobiles and only two other parties out this day. A great workout and very nice views. Day hike
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I took a friend in need (who’s not up for a hard core trip) for a nice snowshoe walk along...
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Keechelus Ridge. Photo by Trail Pair.
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