Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Poe Mountain via Irving Pass
Take this rolling alpine jaunt to Poe Mountain along Wenatchee Ridge and extensive views, prolific berry patches, and sublime meadows will serve as poetic justice for choosing this route. A slightly easier
approach to Poe than the straight up the face of the mountain route described in Hike 75, this trail also offers a fine ridgeline ramble that allows prolonged viewing of the stunning surrounding countryside. There's no time to stretch out on this route. The way commences with a steep climb, gaining 700 feet in 0.7 mile to Irving Pass, a sleepy little hollow on Wenatchee Ridge, otherwise known as Poet Ridge. From the pass, a long-abandoned, fading trail heads downward into the wild and lonely Panther Creek valley. You'll want to follow the more defined trail that heads left along the ridgeline. Climbing steeply again, the way pushes higher up the ridge. At about 1.2 miles, meadows and views begin. The trail continues westward across the rugged ridge, rounding bumps and knobs and steadily gaining elevation. At about 2.5 miles, the way skirts just beneath a 6000-foot knoll, passing a marshy depression before beginning a short descent. After dropping a couple of hundred feet to a saddle beneath Poe Mountain, you'll come to a junction. The official trail continues left, meeting up with the Poe Mountain Trail at 5600 feet about 0.4 mile from the summit. The trail to the right is a boot-beaten shortcut that connects with the Poe Mountain Trail just beneath the summit. Chances are you'll choose the path that heads right, and after a short climb you'll begin to recite the prolific peaks from Poe's perspective. Glacier to the north. Rainier and an emerald swath of peaks along the Cascade crest to the west. Stuart to the south. The White Mountains to the east. And in the immediate vicinity along Poet Ridge, Bryant, Longfellow, Whittier, and Washington's Irving.
Driving Directions:
From Everett head east on US 2 for 85 miles to Coles Corner. (From Leaven-worth travel west on US 2 for 15 miles.) Turn left (north) onto State Route 207 (signed for Lake Wenatchee) and proceed 4.2 miles to a Y intersection after crossing the Wenatchee River. Bear left onto North Shore Road. At 7.6 miles, after passing the ranger station and crossing the White River, the road becomes Forest Road 65. Continue west on FR 65 for 7.7 miles, bearing right onto graveled FR 6504 (1 mile past Soda Springs Campground). Continue for 6.3 miles to the trailhead (elev. 4150 ft). Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
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Ripe berries
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We had planned to do this hike the previous day, but chose to stay out of the constant rain inside. ...
We had planned to do this hike the previous day, but chose to stay out of the constant rain inside. Sunday looked like some breaks in the rain, so we headed out. Drove to the Irving Pass trailhead in light rain and clouds, which turned into patches of blue sky as we arrived. Hit the trail at 10:30am. While easy to follow, the trail has not been recently maintained and is overgrown in parts (noticeable only because it was so wet and the branches brushing our legs made for very wet pant legs quite quickly.
The trail switchbacks to Irving Pass then follows the ridge line up to Poe Mountain. Lovely views. Dark clouds appeared on the horizon when we were at the top, so we made haste on the descent - the last 10 minutes of which was in solid rain. A little wet, we arrived at the trailhead (ours being the only car on this rainy day) at about 12:30. Day hike
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Bugs
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Hiked Irving Pass to Poe Mountain last Sunday. I had never done the hike and after making the first ...
Hiked Irving Pass to Poe Mountain last Sunday. I had never done the hike and after making the first left correctly, I missed the next left that keeps you on the ridge. I realized my mistake after a half mile of plodding through snow on the north side of the ridge. Went back to the ridge, found the correct trail, and continued on the summit. There was a bit of snow obscuring the trail where I got off track. Just stay on the ridge at all times and you'll be fine. Once on the correct route, the trail is more or less snow free the entire way. Views were great and a pretty easy hike. Bugs down low but not as bad once you get up on the ridge in the wind. Day hike
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A rather little used area in the region. The FR 6504 is in perfect condition for the 6+ mile drive u...
A rather little used area in the region. The FR 6504 is in perfect condition for the 6+ mile drive up to the 4200' trailhead. The trail up to Irving Pass, while insanely steep in areas, has great tread up to the ridge and Glacier Peak Wilderness boundary. It has been freshly logged out. I roamed up toward Irving Peak off trail (actually a boot path found in areas) a bit but the low cloud deck and heavy drizzle hindered my ideas for any views. By the return to Irving Pass the clouds lifted, so I enjoyed the ridge trail for the 2 miles along Poet Ridge to Poe Mountain. Very steep in areas, but wonderful ridge hiking in most areas, views, fall colors are cooking, and what fun it was to return to the summit of Poe Mountain after having hiked it in June using the Poe Mountain trail intead. A Cooper Hawk enjoyed following me along the ridge hike back out. Nice views also down the Panther Creek drainage at the smoke still rising up from the fire burning itself out in that region. Day hike
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A chilly August day found us climbing Poe Mt from the Irving Pass side. Didnt see a soul the whole d...
A chilly August day found us climbing Poe Mt from the Irving Pass side. Didnt see a soul the whole day. The road to the trailhead is in great shape. The Irving pass trail starts in an old clearcut that's chock full of big fat huckleberries right now. In under a 1/4 mile it enters forest and starts switchbacking toward the top.
Irving Pass #1545,Poe Mountain #1520
— Aug 18, 2006
— flowerfreaks
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We wanted a view into the Glacier Peak wilderness; this sounded like the hike to do it when we only ...
We wanted a view into the Glacier Peak wilderness; this sounded like the hike to do it when we only had a day. The trail up to Irving Pass alternates between steep and well graded, but is in good shape with no blowdowns, and very few bugs. The trail from Irving Pass to Mt. Poe is a little more challenging, steep in places with tread that could use some improvement. There are also some side trails that lure one off the real route...But it was not hard travel and we did make the top of Poe Mt. in a realtively short time. The views were somewhat obscured by smoke from forest fires, and by 10 am it was very hot for hiking. But this trail is an excellent way to get good views of Poet's Ridge and Glacier Peak. This route has the advantage of shade from trees most of the way from Irving Pass to the base of Poe Mt., and almost 1000' less elevation gain than the trail from Little Wenatchee Ford (my knees were thankful). |
 View in between Irving Pass and Poe Peak. Photo by altasnob.
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