Allen Mountain #269, East Trailhead
Sep 14, 2007
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Allen Mountain
- Region: South Cascades -- White Pass / Cowlitz River Valley
- Trails: Allen Mountain (#269)
- Avg Rating: 3.80
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
- Overgrown
Allen Mountain #269 East Trailhead
At less than a mile from the east trailhead, the trail is blocked by massive windfalls of many big, old trees where it descends through an old growth area to the gap prior to the switchbacks that take you up to the slopes of Allen Mountain proper. The trees are difficult to climb over or under or circumvent on steep slopes. We gave up after about a dozen trees and turned around. This trail requires MAJOR tree removal work. I wonder what the west entrance off Cougar Gap may look like this year.
How to get there: Having had the displeasure of driving FR 84 from its north entrance off FR 52 twice last year, and reading other WTA trip reports in 2007 about the potholes on the northern section of FR 84 on its way to High Rock L.O., we tried a different approach to Allen Mountain Trail No. 269 East this year: We drove FR 85 by going straight shortly after the bridge across the Nisqually River instead of taking a left toward Big Creek C.G. and FR 52. The first six miles of FR 85 are paved, but sections of the remaining 14 miles between the end of pavement and FR 47 are potholed just as badly as the northern half of FR 84. In addition, there are numerous fallen trees and rocks, but all have been cleared and pushed aside to a width that at least a pickup truck can get through. There are also two washed-out spots where a low-clearance vehicle will have to navigate very slowly. Once on FR 47 (FR 47 toward Randle is currently closed) you take the only open option by going east for ~3 miles (part of it on paved road) to the junction with FR 84 to the left. Here is a small sign showing the symbol for a sedan passenger car with the words NOT RECOMMENDED, but actually the south end of FR 48 between FR 47 and Silver Creek Pass and FR 8460 is in very good shape, having received recent maintenance with culvert replacements and drainage improvements. That sign should have been placed at the north entrances of FR 84 and 85! The short 2 miles of FR 8460 are slowly growing in with alder and willow bushes from the sides, but are drivable to the parking area and turnaround just short of the 0.1-mi. rugged profile spur at its end. For the best connection, instead of using FR 85 and making a 62-mile loop, drive in the way we drove out: From Skate Creek Road, FR 52, take FR 47 just short of Packwood (the first 3 miles at the east end of FR 47 are paved) and follow it to the junction with the south end of FR 84. Banks and ditches along the first 4 miles of FR 47 have recently been cleared of brush and trees to allow better maintenance of drain ditches along the road. This approach is a little longer, but is easier on nerves and shock absorbers. Apparently you can reach Silver Creek Pass also by way of FR 5240, but we have not yet tried that option since we don't have a 4WD vehicle.
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