Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

Keechelus Ridge

Washington > Central-W Casca… > Snoqualmie Pass Area

Description

Keechelus Ridge, to most people, is the dirt-road riddled ridge of land dividing Lake Keechelus and Kachess Lake. On top of this ridge, with commanding views of the lakes, Mt Rainier and Mt Stuart, sits Keechelus Ridge, the cliff. The wall is blocky andesite with texture and features similar to some Tieton River crags - hard to read, unlikely jugs and gas pocketed texture. It ranges from slabby with a few decent cracks to gently overhanging, and the tallest part of the cliff stretches for over 130 feet. Grades range from 5.5 to 5.11d, mostly concentrated between 5.9-5.11.

Keechelus Ridge is one of the Snoqualmie Valley's only high-elevation crags, and can provide some relief in hot weather. However the southeastern orientation can be slightly blistering in July. It dries very quickly for the same reason, and the rain shadow of the Pass can guarantee dry climbing when North Bend is wet for the winter. Spring would be similar except for the long driving approach on unplowed FS roads.

Getting There

Take exit 54 off i-90, go north (cross i-90) toward the Gold Creek sno park area and take the next available right. This is Road 4832 which will lead you east, parallel to i-90. 

Take this road for 4 miles. It will turn to gravel and go uphill. Near the end of the 4 miles, there is a relatively sharp (~90 degree) left turn, followed shortly by a trailhead, followed immediately by a fork. Take the prominent left fork then go another 3.25 miles until you see a small spur road to your left, followed immediately by a small parking area to your right.

(Note: if you haven’t gone the 3.25 miles and you see a similar location with a spur road and a small parking area, you are in the wrong spot. Pay attention to the mileage! Just past the parking area, there is a big turnout which people have clearly used for car camping and a great view of Rainier on a clear day. If you see those things, you’re in the right spot.)

Park in the parking area, cross the road and hike up the spur road for about 15 minutes until you get to a wide flat area with a great view. Just as the road levels off and starts going slightly downhill, look for a cairn and a small but obvious trail leading right (north) into the forest: hike this trail for another 10 minutes to a rocky area.  Many people mistakenly turn downhill at the first rocky area and end up bushwhacking.  Instead, stay on the good trail past that first rocky area - the trail reenters the forest and goes steeply up hill for another minute or two.

At the 2nd rocky area the main trail makes a sharp right turn.  Stay on this obvious trail as it skirts the south side of the rock formation, until you come to the top of West Wall.

The gravel road is in decent shape -- mostly wide, shallow potholes.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Approach beta to the K-Ridge crags from the main parking culdesac
[Hide Photo] Approach beta to the K-Ridge crags from the main parking culdesac
Sunset horizon & Rainier from the trailhead
[Hide Photo] Sunset horizon & Rainier from the trailhead
Trail leading into the forest, july 2018
[Hide Photo] Trail leading into the forest, july 2018
All areas
[Hide Photo] All areas
East Face
[Hide Photo] East Face
West Wall and Lizard Ledge
[Hide Photo] West Wall and Lizard Ledge

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Jon Nelson
Redmond, WA
[Hide Comment] I add here some info that Brent Kelly posted about the parking (info from now-deleted page):

Main parking spot for K. Ridge. A gorgeous view that catches sun from mid-morning to late evening.


The trail roads leading up to the parking spot are currently (2020-07-28) in decent shape, but trying to drive up with anything less than 4 Wheel Drive is something of a crap shoot.

There are parking pull-outs on the “spur trail” (NF4934-139), but chancing them is a risky endeavor.

For driving the NF4934-139 spur trail to the footpath-only trailhead, trucks with redneck lifted suspensions might have a shot at making it, so long as the gate is open and its not too washed out.

Subie Outbacks will struggle under normal conditions.

FWD Honda Civics don’t stand a chance. Aug 1, 2020
[Hide Comment] Last stretch to the parking area still has some very deep patches of snow June 26th 2022 Jun 26, 2022
Alex Clark
Tacoma, Wa
[Hide Comment] As of 7/16/2022, the road to the trailhead was in great shape, no snow. This was a fun area with great views of Rainier on a clear day. Bugs came out around 5-6pm so maybe bring some spray if you will be later. There's also lots of dispersed camping nearby. All of the directions are spot on. Jul 16, 2022