Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books Mount Defiance
Featured In:
Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Region,
by Dan A. Nelson and Alan L. Bauer.
A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails. Start climbing the Ira Spring Trail, following it as it ascends the old logging road and then the true trail toward Mason Lake. At about 2.7 miles, as you skirt above the shore of Mason Lake, turn left at a trail fork. Right leads down alongside Mason Lake and on toward Rainbow and Pratt Lakes. This left-hand path climbs for 2 miles, running through forest and open slopes to an elevation of 5240 feet. You'll find yourself in a broad meadow packed with wildflowers and views. Those with no desire or skill to scramble can enjoy this wonderful wilderness garden, but those looking for a little more can push on. A rough path runs steeply up the ridge to the summit of Mount Defiance at 5584 feet. From here, the views are as good as you'll find anywhere. Due north look for the snow-capped cone of Mount Baker and to its right and a little closer in, Glacier Peak. Turn and face west to see the South Fork Snoqualmie Valley running down into the Puget Sound lowlands and, beyond, the sawtooth ridges of the Olympic Mountains. Face south and enjoy the massive mountain that is Rainier and behind it, Mount Adams. To the west of these you might see the abbreviated summit of Mount St. Helens, and in the gap between Adams and St. Helens, look for the faint outline of Mount Hood (count yourself lucky if you see it). Finally, look east and take in the long ridge to Bandera and Pratt Mountains.
Driving Directions:
From Seattle drive east on I-90 to exit 45 (Forest Road 9030). Drive north, then stay left on FR 9030. About 1 mile from the freeway, you'll encounter a fork. Stay left again, now on Mason Lake Road (FR 9031). At about 3.9 miles from the freeway, park where the road is blocked--the road continues on the other side, but only for foot traffic. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming | Fall foliage
Issues:
Blowdowns | Mud/Rockslide | Water on trail
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Flickr: http://bit.ly/mt-defiance-ii
Mount Defiance brought us back to it exactly one year later. It's one of those weekends where rain was...
Flickr: http://bit.ly/mt-defiance-ii
Mount Defiance brought us back to it exactly one year later. It's one of those weekends where rain was in the forecast everywhere in the Cascades. I had hoped to go somewhere east for some sun, but then realized I needed to be back in town early in the evening. Piotr and Tim invited me to hike somewhere near Snoqualmie Pass and the consensus they came to was Defiance. It was nice to hike with people again since South Wedge Mountain. It was the also the largest group I've hiked with this year, five people including me. The weather turned out to be much better than the forecast, we even got some sun along the way. My fifth time on the Ira Spring trail, so it wasn't all that eventful except for good company. The trail was clear of snow all the way to the summit, and it was fairly dry for the most part. Lots of fall colors and photo opps along the way. Clouds were rolling in and out of the nearby mountains and nothing was visible beyond the area. But I certainly got more views this time than last year, where there wasn't much to look at. We made a new hiker friend on the summit who also attempted Rooster Mountain (The Ark) this past summer after reading my trip report from August. Talk about a small world. On the way back we ran into quite a few parties and the parking lot was half full when we arrived back at the car.
Mount Defiance
— Sep 04, 2011
— Chuck Gustafson
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Bugs
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This was a Mountaineer's scramble. Stats were: 9 miles, 3,780' gross elev. and 8.5 hours with lots of breaks....
This was a Mountaineer's scramble. Stats were: 9 miles, 3,780' gross elev. and 8.5 hours with lots of breaks. Good, but smoggy views from the summit. Bugs were not too bad all day except, unfortunately, at the summit. Amazingly, the wildflowers think it's early July. On the way out we took a long break at Mason Lake. Observed 2 very strong swimmers doing freestyle around the parameter of the Lake wearing shorty wetsuits and swim caps.
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
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This is a great hike close to Seattle. Nice trail condition, great flowers, refreshing lake to swim in and...
This is a great hike close to Seattle. Nice trail condition, great flowers, refreshing lake to swim in and excellent views from the peak. RT is about 10mi with 3300 ft elevation gain. 100% snow free, no mud anywhere, and bugs were present but not too annoying.
By taking the old Mason Lk trail you can make the lower portion of the hike into a loop and shave off 1 mile of hiking in the process. It also adds cool variety to the journey since the scenery is very deep forest and totally different from the dry open Ira Spring route. The downside is that the old Mason Lk trail is steep and not easy to find. It takes off 3/4 mi from the trailhead. It is 300 feet beyond Mason Creek which is the 3rd and largest creek that you cross. It is the one with a large steel culvert that is partly exposed by a past washout. The trail is marked (blocked?) by a pile of jumbled logs. After a few switchback the Old Mason Lk trail enters an interesting mossy old growth forest which runs just east of the creek. The trail is steep enough that poles are very useful. The tread is in amazing shape considering the steepness. The trail then veers away from the creek and eventually traverses just below a large bolder field. You can go straight up the boulder field but the easiest route is to take the trail that runs just to the left (north) of the boulder field. The trail eventually runs into the Ira Spring trail. Turn left and in 140 steps you will be crossing the Mason lake outlet. The Old Mason Lake trail is hard to identify from top end also because an old log is sitting in the middle of the path and obscures it. The trail to Mt Defiance is well marked and takes off about 1/4 mile north of Mason Lk. It starts out in a very old climax forest of silver fir and hemlock. The trees are of modest size but many are over 500 years old. The trail eventually breaks out into a steep meadow just south of Mt Defiance. Lots of wild flowers still in peak bloom. The trail that finally ascends Defiance goes up the west side of the peak and is easy to find(marked by a small pile of rocks). From the top you can see Baker, Glacier, Stuart, Rainier, Downtown Seattle and countless local peaks and several lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. A light breeze helped with the bugs. Don't expect to be lonely on a weekend.
Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake, Island Lake - Rainbow Lake, Mount Defiance
— Aug 26, 2011
— Bounder of Adventure
Multi-night backpack
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As this trail has been more than adequately described by other users, I will add my two cents on a...
As this trail has been more than adequately described by other users, I will add my two cents on a more serious topic.
As my two buddies and I hiked out from Island Lake on the 28th, we passed a still-smoldering campfire at Mason Lake in the early morning. Okay. One, it's above 4000 feet, so no fires. Two, it's posted TWICE before the lake that fires are not allowed within the lake basin. Three...there were maybe twelve people camped within 50' of this site, all of whom should have been able to smell and see the smoke just as we did.... As well as dozens of other hikers already on the trail that morning. And yet, we were the ones who spent an hour carrying water from the lake to try to douse the smouldering duff? And while I realize that no one likes confrontation (least of all myself), I would hope that someone had a good shout at the idiots who were trying so very hard to start a forest fire the previous night. After we did our best to douse the area, we hiked out as fast we could, heavily loaded, and called the Ranger station to report the fire and get some professionals out to complete the process, which still needed some shovel-work. We found that we were the first to call it in. Please everyone, please. If you are in the forest, the forest is your responsibility. Thank you! Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming | Fall foliage
Issues:
Bugs
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Had hiked Mount Defiance a couple of years ago but no views as weather was socked in. Today was...
Had hiked Mount Defiance a couple of years ago but no views as weather was socked in. Today was the perfect weather day to go back. Ira Spring parking lot close to full upon my arrival around 10:30.
Was passed by a jogger and other hikers going up. Thought I was setting a decent pace (must be getting old!). Started seeing more hikers coming down around fork to Bandera. Lots of dogs too. As the trail came out onto open slopes more, noted wildflowers at their peak bloom and even vine maple turning color. What a wierd year. At least summer's finally arrived! Talked to a few people coming down, nobody had gone to Mt Defiance, most to the lake. Did talk to 2 girls that had gone to the base of Bandera and to the fork w/ Defiance trail but didn't know how far it was and turned around. Oh to be young and fancy free. Noticed there is a plaque for Ira Spring on one of the big rocks in a boulder field just before the trail starts down for Mason Lakes. When I arrived at Mason Lake some folks were just setting up campsites. Lake was gorgeous. Continued on to fork w/ Trail #1009 and went left. Hike gains elevation through forest. Lake Kulla Kulla barely visible below through trees. A couple of snow patches left but none on trail. Bursting out of the forest onto the final ridge, pretty much every mid elevation Western Cascade wildflower blooming. Slopes were alive w/ color (and bugs). Small rock cairn at junction to right w/ climbers path to summit. Views at top of Mt's Baker, Glacier Peak, Stuart, Rainier, Olympics, McClellan Butte, and many other area peaks. I also counted 9 lakes. Didn't stay too long due to the bugs. On way down passed several other people coming up path. One group of 4 had summitted Putrid Pete's Peak and had gone cross country and bisected this trail. They weren't sure what trail they were exactly on. They weren't interested in summitting Defiance, they just wanted to return to their car at Ira Spring trailhead. I told them they could follow me back to the main trail that I was going that way. The lady in the group said that their hike was supposed to be a "short hike"! We parted ways at Mason Lake. Had another runner go flying past me coming down. She stopped at the Bandera fork and asked me a few questions about it. She decided not to attempt it today. Only 3 blowdowns on entire hike. Good workout and views for those that wish to go all the way to Defiance summit. |
Mt Defiance Summit photo by Norm
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