Sometimes, you hike the steep trails to get the best possible views. Other times, you hike the steep trails just because they are steep. McClellan Butte hikers generally fall into this later category. The trail is steep and physically demanding, while the views are less spectacular than you'll find on other nearby trails. But folks flock to this wonderful trail, using it as a warm-up for more serious alpine adventures later in the year. And unlike other "training" hills (Mount Si and Granite Mountain, for instance), McClellan Butte doesn't draw hundreds of people every day in the spring and summer. You're not going to hike in solitude, of course (every trail in the I-90 corridor draws weekend boot traffic), but you might only see a few other people as you sweat your way to the summit.

Like much of the west side of the South Fork Snoqualmie Valley (the I-90 corridor), loggers got to his mountain before you. The trail leaves the parking area and ascends through dense second-growth timber for about a mile, crossing the Iron Horse Trail (rail-to-trail route) about 0.5 mile up the Alice Creek valley.

About 0.5 mile past that broad trail, the trail to McClellan pokes out onto a rough old logging road. You might find vehicles here, but don't worry. It's much better to park low and hike this far than to beat your vehicle to death on the long, roundabout rough road.

After that first warm-up mile, the trail turns steep while the forest opens up a bit, with a few majestic old-growth behemoths still gracing this mountain retreat. The trail climbs ever steeper, winding through an endless series of tight switchbacks. Finally, about 2.5 miles into your hike, the trail levels a bit and rolls east to a very steep avalanche chute. Caution: This area can be covered in snow until well into July some years. If there is snowpack on the steep slope, come back when the way is clear, since the snow can slide at any time.

Beyond that potential hazard zone, the trail gets back to the business of climbing, offering you more switchbacks to enjoy. At 4.1 miles you'll crest the mountain's southern ridge (elev. 4500 ft). Stop here (as if you had a choice after that blistering climb!) and enjoy the views. Peer down into the deep, green wilderness of the Cedar River watershed (off-limits to most humans) and across the way to Kent Mountain.

The next 0.5 mile of trail rolls down to a small tarn, then up along the ridge spine toward the summit. Grand views can be had from the ridgetop viewpoints, and anyone without well-honed rock scrambling skills should consider stopping here. The last 100 vertical feet to the top of the mountain requires use of hands and feet to move cautiously up to the 5162-foot summit.