Although not hikable together these peaks are a quick drive away from each other. Kelly Butte came onto our radar because it has a standing fire lookout. Colquhoun is another former fire lookout that we thought would be fun to visit.
Kelly Butte has a new trail (as opposed to the original, steep scramble). It is fabulous. It starts as a quiet ramble on an old logging road. After 3/4 of a mile it turns uphill through steep basalt cliffs and airy hillsides covered in wild flowers. Bear grass, penstemon, snow bank parsley, indian paintbrush. In all we identified ~35 different flowers.
The trail quickly reaches a long gentle bench which rises up to the beautifully restored fire lookout. Inside there is a working fire finder. Views stretch for miles. Rainier is right in your face, the Stuarts linger towards the east, and the snowy county line between King and Kittitas counties is a jagged mess of peaks.
Colquhoun, while only a few miles away, was also a fire lookout. It's old trail is infrequently used. It is barely discernible initially from the trail head. A number of trees are down over this quiet trail but we cleared it for easy hiking. A ridgeline near the summit provides good views of Rainier. The former fire lookout location has no views. A few remnants of the lookout are scattered about.
Both of our GPSs measured Kelly Butte and 2 miles one way. Just a little bit more than the 1.7 miles noted on line. Although this is a great hike for children be sure to keep them close while going through the steep section.
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