Rock Mountain via Snowy Creek — Friday, Jul. 26, 2024

Wanted check this hike out since it’s in the 100 Classic Hikes Washington, 1st Edition by Ira Spring. There’s two trails that go up rock Mountain. I always thought I’d do the one right off of Hwy 2 but after reading the description as “masochists striving to purify their souls, choose the south slope where 95 switchbacks toil up the sun blasted mountain stripped to the bones by fire and avalanche, and the only water is from chewing a few thousand of the flies which kamikaze into your gasping mouth.” LOL.
I’m sure that side is fine but figured it may be better for early season access or something.
So I hiked from the snowy creek trailhead.
Road 6700 is smooth and in great shape. once past the Smith Brook trailhead the road gets much more scenic and very enjoyable actually. It kind of contours along that valley so you get lots of good views, with a few rough patches but totally manageable all the way onto 6705 to Snowy Creek th.
The trail itself is in great shape. Starts with a gentle slope going through a really beautiful forest, but the halfway point you come into this basin with tons of wildflowers before starting the steeper section in the woods, which eventually gives way to open grass and Meadows. The meadow here is steep, but switchback to make it manageable and very beautiful. Probably my favorite part of the hike, especially on a nice and cool sunny day. But a hot day you may be getting scorched by the sun.
Eventually, you get to the little saddle with a short distance to the top where you’re treated to some pretty good views. The mountain is situated so that you have pretty great distant 360 views but nothing super close other than Mount Howard.
You could see all the smoke by Lake Chelan but for the most part, the day was relatively clear. You could see all the way out to Mount Baker.
A pretty quiet hike, as I only saw a few people.
Bugs were not too bad, but they were around. I didn’t need to use any spray, but I wasn’t sitting around very much. I think it also helped that there was a breeze. Bugs were worst at the very top.
Overall, very pleasant day out. nothing mind blowing, but kind of an old classic hike with a fun gravel road, beautiful forest, wildflowers, steep Meadows and great views from a former lookout site.