Kelly Butte — Sunday, Sep. 2, 2001

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

Wow. What a little Gem amid all the forest logging going on around. This hike totally surprised me! This hike is 90% in meadows and the berries are at their peak! I have done a lot of hiking and this is by far the most berries I have encountered next to a trail. The people who used to man the lookout tower before it was abandoned were definitely sick of berries at the end of each season I am sure. Wow! The trail is in good shape except for the first 200 feet of elevation gain where someone has put up a cable to go up and down the dirt gully. If you can get past the cable, then you definitely can do the rest of the trail. There are no signs for the trail and road access is difficult. Follow the roads as indicated on the GT map—the road numbers are correct and signed except for one important place about ¾ of mile before the trailhead. You will want to take a left on a dirt road that jogs to the left about ¾ of a mile before the trailhead. The main road continues straight, intersects with another road that turns left, and then continues on before heading down and then to the right—do not take this main road. This dirt road is not marked and not recommended for passenger vehicles because of water bars and no turnaround points so park at the intersection of the dirt road and the main road. The dirt road is okay with high clearance vehicles—no 4WD necessary. The trail begins at the end of the dirt road without a sign.