Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books Purcell Lookout
Featured In:
Day Hiking: South Cascades,
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. Our route follows the shorter, but still rugged, Purcell Lookout Trail, which begins a couple thousand feet higher on the mountain than the longer Purcell Mountain Trail. From the trailhead, our path cuts straight to the chase, proving that shorter isn't always easier. This trail makes a direct assault on the high summit. After about an hour on the Purcell Lookout Trail, though, it might feel more like you're the one being assaulted. The grade is steep, gaining 2100 feet (about half in an open, hot clear-cut) in about 3 miles. Here you join the main trail from the bottom and climb a more moderate 500 feet in the last 0.5-mile pitch to the lookout site. You get great views in all directions. Funny how they keep putting lookouts in places like this.
Driving Directions:
From Interstate 5 near Napavine, turn east onto U.S. Highway 12 and drive approximately 47 miles to Randle. Continue 6 miles east to the old highway (unmarked) on the left. Turn left (north) and drive about 1 mile to Forest Road 63. Turn left and drive north to FR 6310. Bear left on FR 6310, and you'll find the trailhead on the right in less than a mile. Recent Trip Reports
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Purcell Lookout
— Aug 25, 2010
— Tomas
Day hike
Issues:
Road to trailhead inaccessible
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Just a note:
Purcell Lookout trailhead from Road 63 is blocked with a locked gate just off of Davis Creek Road...
Just a note:
Purcell Lookout trailhead from Road 63 is blocked with a locked gate just off of Davis Creek Road adding 10 miles roundtrip to the hike in the guidebook. I did not attempt.
,Purcell Lookout #285,Trails End
— Jul 05, 2007
— blackdog
Day hike
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The old highway, off HWY 12, is out - as in the bridge is washed to the side of the...
The old highway, off HWY 12, is out - as in the bridge is washed to the side of the road! This trailhead is not accessible. Day hike
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Contrary to the report on the website, there are several large blowdowns on the trail. Hikers can get around, but...
Contrary to the report on the website, there are several large blowdowns on the trail. Hikers can get around, but a couple will present trouble for stock.
Trails End,Purcell Mountain #284,Purcell Lookout #285
— Aug 02, 2004
— EckartS
Day hike
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Trail #285 and its continuation No. 284 to the Trails End lookout site is in excellent condition, having received...
Trail #285 and its continuation No. 284 to the Trails End lookout site is in excellent condition, having received recent maintenance. Not a single blowdown to step over. A sign at the trailhead alerts horseriders to a dangerous creek crossing for stock at high water. (No word about hikers potentially getting washed downstream early in the year.) This time the crossing of Davis Creek was easy, just one step. There is not much the trail maintenance crew can do against the rodents critters that continue to burrow tunnels in the soft soil on the steep meadow slopes along the upper end of the trail. Sinkholes in the trail are a continuing potential hazard. Watch your step in the open meadows! We counted 70 different species of wild flowers in bloom. FS Road #63 is in good shape. Fallen rocks at 2.9 miles from the paved road limit the navigable width of the road, but everything except a Hummer can get through. Note that the description in ""100 Hikes in Washington's South Cascades and Olympics"" 3rd Edition is no longer accurate because the hike now starts on FS Road #63. Spur 057 (old #6310) is closed to vehicle travel because the upper bridge across Davis Creek is gone. This adds 1.4 miles to the total length of the hike.
Purcell Lookout #285
— Aug 15, 2002
— DaveH
Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Bridge out | Overgrown | Bugs
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Purcell Mountain doesn’t get many visitors. Some of the reasons are, 1) Road 63 is a ONE lane road...
Purcell Mountain doesn’t get many visitors. Some of the reasons are, 1) Road 63 is a ONE lane road with very few turnouts and you need a high clearance vehicle. 2) Road 057 has been closed, add another half mile to the trip. 3) There is no bridge over Davis Creek and it can only be crossed this time of year when the flow is down. 4) Trail 285 has not been maintained, there are dozens of blow downs. 5) BUGS; this is the worst bug trip I have been on all year; I had to apply several applications of DEET, and that did not stop 10% of the attackers. 6) Mountain Beavers; These critters have undermined much of the upper trail between 4000 to 5000 feet. There are many vertical holes burrowed in the trail and hidden by overgrowth; these holes are potential leg and knee poppers. 7) This is a dry and hot trip, bring about 4 liters of water. |
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