Klickitat Trail — Monday, Jul. 30, 2007

South Cascades > White Pass/Cowlitz River Valley

I chose the Jackpot Lake trail access from the 3 options given in 100 Hikes In The South Cascades and Olympics for the Klickitat Trail. The hike itself was fine. The trail needs some brushing out, but is otherwise great. The views along the trail and from the top of Cispus Butte in particular are tremendous. I had a great day of solitude, and no people at all -- none on the trail, none at the parking area, none on the road. But there's a reason I was alone. Forest Road 20 is passable by four-wheel drive only, and took about an hour to go the 12 miles to the trailhead. There are four washouts where up to half the road has been eaten away by last winter's rain, leaving a sheer drop at each. One in particular is very scary. But tracks showed that others had done it, so after careful evaluation, I did it too. It was OK, but I don't think I'll want to do it again.