Hex Mountain Snowshoe

Hex Mountain is a steep but rewarding Cascades snowshoe: you will earn the great 360 degree views from the summit. Low avalanche risk makes this a popular winter destination. Begin your ascent to the summit via Forest Service Road 116, past a closed gate, and as you climb, ignore any roads that branch off. Please note that this forest service road is now on private property and respect the space.

You'll be heading generally in a northeasterly direction. After 1.7 miles, take a sharp right to leave the road for trail #1343, the Hex Mountain trail; there is a wooden sign clearly marking the trail. The narrow trail now will follow the spine of a ridge through the forest. Stay well back from the edge to avoid the cornices that form here.

You'll eventually veer to your right (easterly), and then travel up the steep, bare and windswept knob of the Hex Mountain summit. On a clear day, you will enjoy views of Mount Rainier, the Teanaways, and other peaks. Retrace your steps once you have taken in the views from the windy summit.

Since this is a popular route, if there hasn't been fresh snow recently it can be quite easy to find the trail once you leave the Forest Service road by following the beaten track of other snowshoers.