Thirteenmile

Hike of the Week:

May 26, 2008

A hiker looks out on the rolling mountains of the Kettle Range. Photo by Kim Brown.

Location: Kettle Range, near Republic
Distance: 8 - 32 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 2000 ft in first 4 miles
Maps: USGS Quad Bear Mountain, Edds Mountain

Why Go?

Sunny skies of Eastern Washington. Warm weather. Solitude. Gorgeous views of the rounded mountains of the Kettle Crest and Sherman Pass from ridgetops. Alpine meadows. Opportunities to wander and scramble.

Spend a day or a week, Thirteenmile is much more inspiring than its name. The Kettle Range area offers some of the least known, best hiking in the state, and it is all gloriously accessible right now. If you want to get up high and not encounter snow, this is a great place to do it.

The Thirteenmile trail is 16 miles long, but you need not hike it all (though you may want to!). It can be done as a nice 8 mile dayhike or a longer trek with lots of opportunities to explore.

The trail begins in a steep canyon and runs along Thirteen Mile creek. After a couple of miles, the trail climbs high above the creek, offering great views of the rapids and waterfalls below. Water should be plentiful for this first section, but if you venture beyond, be sure to consult a map and pack extra water - especially as the summer season progresses. A good turn around for a day hike is a road that the trail crosses at about the 4 mile mark.

But it's worth pushing on. Miles of trail wind through this open country, interspersed with larches, white pine, fir and small areas where fire has occured. Short detours will allow you to spend plenty of time atop ridges and in alpine meadows, with views aplenty.

Other than water, watch for rattlesnakes and cougars. 

More Information

Guidebook: Columbia Highlands: Exploring Washington's Last Frontier by Craig Romano (Mountaineers Books). Check the WTA Hiking Guide and Trip Reports on Thirteenmile.

Driving Directions

From Republic, travel state Route 21 south 13 miles to Thirteen Mile Trailhead camp.