Steamboat Mountain — Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012

South Cascades > Mount Adams Area

Spectacular, 360 degree views! Panoramic from Mt. Adams to Mt. Hood in one direction, and then turn to see Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens visible through sparse treetops. Each mountain can be seen unobstructed from certain vantages. The trail is not too long a drive from where we were staying in Trout Lake, and well worth it on a clear day! Be prepared for one-lane mountain roads starting at big tire junction. The first stretch of one-lane road, 8851, is smoothly paved and in excellent condition. There were only a few blind corners requiring extra caution. Once you leave the pavement at 8854, the road is rocky, too narrow for more than one vehicle in places, and uphill, but there were no real ruts or potholes. We managed easily in minivans. We saw berry pickers parked roadside, but there was no one else out on the road midday. You will want a map or GPS, as there are opportunities to take a wrong turn along the way. There is abundant parking at the trailhead, and your destination at the top of Steamboat Mountain can be seen by looking straight up the cliff. It's way up there! The trail winds around the back of the mountain, mostly in the shade. The huckleberries along the path were ripe and plentiful, and there were beautiful lake and mountain views through the trees along the way. The trail gets steep at times, but is very manageable, even for children. This is not a very long or challenging hike. Our party was made up of three adults and five young children. Our youngest hikers were four, and I'd say that's about the minimum age for this hike- both for the uphill climb, and for managing safety at the top of the trail. Kids must be old enough to recognize the importance of staying back from the edge. We kept the toddler in the backpack and required the other kids (ages 4-7) to stay seated safely while we admired the views. They are completely safe as long as they aren't goofing off or near the edge. We lifted the kids up well back from the edge so they could appreciate how high we were- the cars looked surprisingly itty bitty from where we stood!. Bring a good camera with you and you'll get a fantastic photo of your party with Mt. Adams featured prominently.