Silver Peak — Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

COUNT: We parked by the trailhead, at the PCT. No other cars at 7:30 a.m., several in the area and down the road on return about 4:15. Likewise, we saw several parties in the two hours we spend enjoying the top of Silver Peak.

STATS (per GAIA) 6.1 miles RT, net gain 1700' to reach 5562'. GAIA added 150' for total gain -- maybe an underestimate, but in any case, this is an easy relaxing hike.

THE HIKE. Lovey! on a lovely Wednesday. The "partly cloudy" weather forecast took the good turn. There are fall colors on the way, some turning leaves and especially the yellow/orange red of the blueberry bushes. On top, lovely views, especially for appreciating the regional landscape.

VIEWS. Distant views (e.g. Adams) weren't there this day. But. 
-- To the south: Rainier! and all those watersheds. You can make out the Cedar River watershed clearly; further south, the Green River and Greenwater-to-White River watersheds are there but more challenging to place. 
-- To the north across I-90, Granite Mountain so close, and to the left you can see the line of I-90 hikes moving west from Granite Mountain (Pratt Lake basin side, Bandera, Mason Lake basin side, Defiance; Putrid Peak? Dirty Harry?). North of Granite Mountain, more, such as Kaleetan.
-- Looking to the right (east and northeast) of Granite Mountain,
over the pass northerly are Lundin, Red Mountain, Kendall Peak. And then the grand watershed of Gold Creek (with Alta Mountain and Rampart Ridge on the far side) flowing into Keechelus Lake. More mountains beyond. 

--To the west, down below is Annette Lake. On the far side of the basin is Humpback Mountain. At the south end of the basin, Abiel Peak.

TRAIL. Quite okay.Two details:
(1) Coming up toward the ridge, you reach an (unmarked) option to continue straight toward Abiel or take a path right to Silver. If you continue straight, you'll tee into a path. There, for Abiel go left, for Silver go right. (We took the second turn to Silver going up, and returned on the other option, for a small loop.)
(2) The last stretch up to Silver Peak is a little steep with some hand use. Nothing close to Class 3 if you stay on trail -- don't go off trail right.

THE ROAD. Some roughness and potholes. The last 100 yards or so up the hill is the worst; hikers often park below that and walk that last little bit to the TH. Any car can make the trip (at least, avoiding that last bit) with reasonable pothole caution.