Last Chance Promontory

Begin from the Bessemer Road pullout and parking area (a blue Department of Natural Resources gate). Follow the road 1.1 miles to a signed junction with the CCC trail and a bridge over Big Blowout Creek on your left. Take a moment here to listen to Lower Big Blowout falls, heard through the trees just to the north.

Crossing the bridge, travel west another 1.2 miles on the CCC trail and arrive at a second bridge, this time crossing over Wise Creek. Enjoy a nice view here of Russian Butte through an opening in the canopy eastward. For another 0.8 mile, climb softly with the CCC’s slight grade increase and reach an area known as the Plateau. Rest a minute and have some water on the old, well-placed log in front of a rock face. Take in sweeping valley views that are a preview of what's to come. Once ready, hike another 0.9 mile, passing over Lower Brawling Creek and arriving at a dirt path on your right. At 3.8 miles, this is the turnoff for the signed Last Chance Promontory trail.

In about 150 feet of gain over 0.3 mile, follow the trail as it weaves through an area of second-growth forest. In years prior, this area had been severely damaged by storms. Enjoy nicely graded switchbacks until you reach a rockier path heading up and to the northeast. This is where the real climbing begins. 

Head up the steep, rocky trail across 3 long switchbacks. The unmaintained nature of this portion makes itself known with the regular appearance of blown down trees. At 685 feet of elevation gain over 1 mile, arrive at an impressive third bridge crossing over Upper Brawling Creek. 

Past this, follow even steeper switchbacks for 600 feet of elevation gain over 0.6 mile to a decommissioned junction with West Green Mountain trail. Veer right and hike on more even ground another tenth of a mile to Far Enough Promontory. You will see a slight opening in the trees, directly in front of a massive rock face. Acknowledge the view here and hike another tenth of a mile, slightly downhill to your destination: Last Chance Promontory. 

Arrive at the much larger opening and rest easy somewhere on the wide array of mossy talus. Enjoy expansive views of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley, with its peaks towering above the river and road you travelled in on.

Extending your hike

Travel a short distance downhill on the trail to an unmarked and unmaintained scrambler route on your left. This leads to the summit of Green Mountain in 1 mile, over 1,020 feet of elevation gain.