Denny Creek, Kaleetan Peak

A perfect fall day to be in the mountains, cloudy below, sunny and warm up high. The trail to Kaleetan starts from Melakawa Lake, you are supposed to go up the trail to the WC but the sign is only a remnant right now. Just follow the trail up the hill to your left as you approach the lake, behind the rock face. It goes up steeply (past an intact WC sign) and up up up to Point 5700. From there you drop down a few hundred steep feet before crossing a talus field and then straight up to the summit.

This hike takes me a long time (5 hours in, 4 out), but I'm kind of slow and there's a lot to look at. At 12 miles and 4000+ vertical, much of it really steep, much of it really chunky rocks, it's hard to go fast up or down. I suggest an early start this time of year. Bring bug juice and there is no water above Melakawa Lake.

One of the prettiest peaks and best vantage points in the Snoqualmie Pass area in a non technical scramble.