Directions to TH: Google directions to Cathedral Pass TH is accurate.  The last 12 miles once you turn to Cle Elum Valley Rd/NF-4330 is all dirt road.  No potholes, but still a little bumpy due to ripples on the road.  Like the rumble strips you encounter in the highways.  All vehicle types are ok

Parking  Lot: The parking lot is pretty big.  I got to the lot around 7:22a and I was the 3rd car there and by the time I came back around 4:30p, there were still a lot of spaces available. Though this was on a Friday.

 Weather: Mostly clear skies with some clouds.  Was cooler in the morning when I started.  Maybe around the high 30s, but by the time I reached the car, temps were around the 60s.  The ascent had nicer temps than the descent, but that was ok with me

Equipment I used: 10 essentials. 

Water Usage: Brought 3 liters of water, but I only drank 1.5 liters.  There are several water sources you can filter from on the trail.  Starting a few feet from the TH.  There are also several lakes and ponds to get water from.  Though a couple of them looked nasty to even drink from.

Trail: Trail conditions to Cathedral Rock and Peggy’s pond were pretty great.  There were no obstacles to overcome.  No snow to walk on.  A little muddy in some places, but not difficult to walk or go around it.  The trail was pretty obvious to follow.  The trail is mostly rocky with lots of roots.  The ascent wasn’t too steep.  Was more of a gradual incline and there were sections of the trail where it leveled off a bit and walked on pretty flat terrain.  I’ve seen lots of campsites to choose from.  The last trail section to Peggy’s Pond is where you really need to hike with caution.  Once you see the trail sign that says, “Hiker Trail Trail closed to Pack and Saddle Stock.” This begins the last section of the trail to Peggy’s Pond.  This section is pretty narrow and steep with lots of loose rock.  Also some parts of this trail section are washed out and kind of tricky to maneuver.  So be careful on this trail section.

Experience: I had a wonderful time.  Weather was great. Cathedral Rock was nice. Peggy’s Pond was also nice and worth the time to go and see it.

This is not a report of the Report "titles" Trails (off NF 4330), but of the Road Condition of NF 4330 (~15 miles between Tacquala Meadows and Cayuse Horse Campground).

In the Forest Service Interactive Visitor Map, NF 4330 is shown as "Dirt Road Suitable for Passenger Cars". However, during my 19oct2023 drive, i found it to be - generally, "Gravel Road Suitable for Passenger Cars".

Link to my "movie" of Driving NF 4330 (from Tacquala Meadows towards Cayuse Horse Campground) >>    https://photos.app.goo.gl/sCh3xtxmARXbbwM48

imho, the ~3+ miles between Tacquala Meadows TH and the Scatter Creek "water-crossing" was much better driving and road condition. It was mostly 2_Lane with a few spots (at/near the road bends) where it "narrowed" to ~1.5_Lane.

The ~12+ miles from Scatter Creek "water-crossing" to Cayuse Horse Camp was "fair" driving and road condition; washboardings, some potholes, and the occasional road shoulder "steep" drops.

i am no expert Off-Roading, but driving on Gravel could be iffy .. especially, when driving on/near the road shoulder - which may be un-compacted Gravel; and so there's the risk of "sinking", "dropping", and/or "sliding" off the road. Also, do drive at a safe s-l-o-w speed - brakes doesn't work (well) on Gravel 😅

Anyway, imho - NF 4330 is a pretty good Forest Service road .. Thank y'all NF for your difficult and hard work maintaining the FS roads.

It took me ~1.5 hrs driving the ~15 miles (Tacquala Meadows TH to Cayuse Horse Camp), including the many stops i made to safely shoot the photos (for the "Movie") .. 🙃

Be safe and happy driving 🙂

Daisy and I had a really great 3 days in the mountains. Mount Daniel is my 2nd favorite WA mountain, after Mt. Baker, so I can never really go wrong out there. I knew I wouldn't be able to go to the beloved west summit because I didn't feel it was safe enough for the doggo with so much exposure, but we went up most of the east summit and then went back and forth from our tent at Peggy's Pond to the tarns and the bottom of Hyas Glacier several times. We both love scrambling and boulder hopping, so it was fun for us.

The first night at Peggy's Pond there were several other campers but everyone was pretty quiet. The second night I thought we had the whole place to ourselves but then saw another tent that I didn't even hear arrive. I kept commenting to myself (and Daisy - ha!) about how quiet it was. The weather was perfect and it was amazing. If only I could get Daisy to sleep in her own bed instead of on top of my legs. I can't figure out what her deal is. I have tried three different beds for her out there. 

Anyway, the deets, there is no water at all over Scatter Creek at the moment so until it pours or something, you're good to go with any vehicle there. The road itself is just washboard. No major potholes. There are a few flowers lingering, especially up on Mt. Daniel, but the fall colors are definitely showing off. The trail is great. Just that "sketchy" section behind Cathedral Rock that people always talk about I guess. I don't really find it sketchy, and there is more than one way that works, so you should be fine if exposure is not your thing. 

I took so many pictures because everything was spectacular. It's hard to pick just four to use here. We ended up over 6,500 vertical feet and around 19 miles over our 3 days of play. 

Happy hiking! Be safe! 

First, it seems reasonable to mention that Mount Daniel is a massive mountain that does have a way to its summit...but to call it a trail, well, lol.

Note that Peggy Goldman and The Mountaineers classify Daniel as S5/T4, meaning that it is about as strenuous as a scramble gets while presenting technical aspects that put you in positions of exposure and require your hands to literally hold yourself onto the mountain and to pull yourself up to higher ledges. Daniel would be a dizzying place to test your abilities if you're new to summits or scrambling.

I went to Peggy's Pond late in the afternoon and arrived at the way trail beneath Cathedral Rock just as the sun was setting behind Daniel. Good thing, too, because with the sun glaring straight into my eyes I wouldn't have been able to see the high ledge with tree root that allowed passage through that section. Once at Peggy's I set up camp in the quiet basin just north of the lake.

In the morning the moon was still bright and complimented the pink glow that was building as the sun rose behind Cathedral Rock. At 7:00 I left my tent near Peggy's and found the rough climber's trail up through the trees and followed it among the heather slopes and giant rock slabs. Here and there you can choose your own adventure.

At the first flat area you can see the dying (dead?) glacier beneath you with a few turquoise tarns far below. This is where the first move that requires hands happens; when the ridge comes to just a person's width you swing around the left side of a large rock and stay on the ridge nose. This area has some very steep tread worn into the loose scree at a high angle. So far this is still fun.

Now higher up a large cluster of black basalt rocks force you up and to the right. A helpful hiker pointed out the route to me and told me to go right around the "impasse" that presents itself coming up. Sure enough, at the top of the knob I noticed the way looked highly sketchy. It looks like you should go left and down, but don't; head right around the rock and you'll see a recess that you have to get into. The space is uncomfortable, narrow, and perched high above the glacial abyss. After a few clever moves, you'll be on the other side, elated.

Now is the second sketchy part - the super steep slope of crumbly rock that one must traverse before bombing straight up the 100 foot pile of scree before the summit plateau. After this point you can choose any high point to enjoy views of practically every major peak in Washington.

The trail (when present) was pleasant, without any down trees or other issues. There are places of course that are tricky, sketchy, and downright scary (try sitting on the true summit rock looking north for example). I lost the way over the high knob and ended up scooting across a ledge where I had no business being at all. Stay on course if possible! A helmet might also be advised for certain places like the "100 foot pile of scree" or any gully areas.

No snow or ice encountered, but nice fall colors happening near Peggy's and along the PCT section. Smoke was visible to the north near Glacier peak and to the south beyond Rainier. 88 degrees when I arrived back at the truck.

Beautiful sunny day on the Cathedral Pass Trail. I’d give it 4.5 stars if I could.

This was our first time driving into the Salmon La Sac area and I was blown away by how incredibly scenic it is! The gravel road is mildly washboarded but not nearly as bad as other forest roads in the area (no potholes to avoid). Note that at one point you have to ford Scatter Creek, and this may not be possible for especially low clearance vehicles, but was feasible in a Subaru Forester for reference.

We arrived to a mostly full parking lot at 10:00am with about three spots remaining before starting to overflow, but got the sense that most cars were from overnight backpackers because we had the trail mostly to ourselves until arriving at the first lake. Encountered 7-8 downed trees across the trail within the first mile. Thankfully this was not indicative of the condition of the trail overall; The rest of the way was largely clear and in great condition. The grade is steady but merciful the whole way up through the largely shaded ascent. The forest air was heavily perfumed by the prevalence of yellow cedar—a fun change of pace from most hikes on the western side of the Cascades. Vegetation was definitely a highlight this time of year; even the meadow at the trailhead was a delight with its full spectrum of wildflowers in bloom and there were lots of pretty flowers and other vegetation along the whole trail. 

The lake at 2.5 miles is good spot for a quick break and snack, and there is a toilet here if you should need it. We spotted a Western Tanager while enjoying the view of the lake from a shady spot just off the trail.

After the lake, the grade steepens slightly. The scenery changes dramatically at about 3.25 miles when you reach the alpine meadow that was filled with wildflowers and stunted firs, dotted with tarns, and offered amazing views of Mount Stuart and other Enchantments peaks, North Paddy-Go-Easy Peak, and Granite Mountain. This trail is going to be berry city in a month or so!

Cathedral Rock is framed beautifully by the meadows, forests and lakes as you near the final stretch of the trail and meet up with the the PCT hikers at the junction. A brief final push up a still steeper grade gets you to Cathedral Pass, where you get to enjoy a dramatic face-to-face view of the flank of Mount Daniel with  a beautiful waterfall tumbling down from its melting glaciers. The PeakFinder app informed me Mt. Adams would also be visible from this spot on the clearest days.

Unfortunately, the mosquitoes were truly awful at the pass and very few people lingered for long. Over the course of a 20 minute rest up there I was the unfortunate recipient of 50-100 bug bites on my back and arms, and that was WITH a shirt and fresh coat of Picaridin spray on, but I guess I missed some spots! Maybe DEET is the way to go this time of year… but even still the hike was 100% worth it and I would highly recommend it to all that are interested. Can’t wait to come back and do it in the autumn when the meadow is ablaze with fall colors, and next time I will plan an overnight at Deep Lake or Peggy’s Pond.