MOUNT AIX
This is a tough hike but the breathtaking views and fun trail along a ridge make it more than worth it! The last half mile is a bit of a scramble, but even if you don’t make it all the way to the summit this hike is a must-do.
Quick Facts:
Distance: 12 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 4800 feet
Location: Mount Aix Trailhead, Naches District, Wenatchee National Forest
Season: Mid Summer-Fall
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass
Check the weather: mountain-forecast, weather.gov
Check for recent trip reports: WTA, AllTrails
Tips: Bring poles & plenty of water! Start early so you can do most of the uphill hiking while the trail is still shaded by the ridge.
Getting there:
Click here for the TH location on Google Maps
The Google Maps directions to this trailhead are spot on. Any car should be able to make it, as the only unpaved part is the final 4 miles and this part of the road is rocky but not very rough. There are several small, roadside “at large” camping areas in the last couple of miles before the trailhead if you want to drive out the night before and camp nearby.
View of trail from the summit, July 2020
View of trail to the summit from the ridge, July 2020
View of Mt Adams and the Goat Rocks from the summit, July 2020
Hike description:
This is a tough hike, and the first few miles are probably the toughest. You start out hiking through the woods and almost immediately begin climbing. The first 2.5 miles are a bit of a slog as you gain 1700 feet with basically no views. Just after 2.5 miles in you begin to gain views of Mount Rainier to the west and eventually Goat Rocks to the south. Although your legs are still working hard until you gain the ridge at 4.5 miles, you now have some nice views to distract you along the way!
Once you pop out onto the ridge the views really open up. You can now see Nelson Ridge, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helens, and the ridge that you will follow to Mount Aix. There is very little vegetation in this area other than some brushy trees and great wildflowers, so your views are nearly unobstructed. Almost immediately after you join the ridge you’ll come to a signed intersection with the Nason Ridge trail, and will continue to the right for Mount Aix.
Signed intersection with Nason Ridge Trail, July 2020
Steep, rocky section to the summit, July 2020
View of Mount Rainier and Nelson Ridge from the summit, July 2020
You continue to gain a little bit of elevation before dropping down to a saddle along the ridge. At this point you can now see Mount Aix in the distance and much of the trail that will take you there. It’s hard to make progress too quickly here because everywhere you look there are amazing views, but eventually you’ll come to an unmarked fork in the trail. To the left is the more direct scramble route to the summit, which is about a Class 3 scramble. The route we took was to the right, which is the 0.6 mile hiking route to the summit. This is easier than the scramble route, but still involves hiking on steep, loose rock with a pretty severe dropoff for much of the route. If this kind of trail/almost scramble makes you uncomfortable, I can honestly tell you that the views from the summit are basically the same as those you’ve gotten already along the ridge (which are incredible!), so you can turn around here and not miss out on those.
If you do decide to hike to the summit, you’ll follow a flat trail for about 0.3 miles to an unmarked fork, where you’ll take a sharp left to begin hiking on the north side of the peak. This is where things get pretty steep, so make sure to watch your step and avoid kicking down loose rock. You’ll drop down on the north side of Mount Aix to pass under a snow field, and then make a final short, steep push to the summit. The views from here, just like on the ridge, are great! Find a spot to settle in on the small, flat summit, watching out for rusty nails and broken glass left over from the fire lookout that used to be here, and enjoy the views that you worked so hard for!
View along the trail, July 2020