MOUNT MCCAUSLAND
A summit at the end of a mostly moderate trail with a final steep push. The views from the top are spectacular! This trail can be quite popular so try to show up early if you’re hiking on a weekend.
Quick Facts:
Distance: 6.3 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 2000 feet
Location: Smithbrook Trailhead, Stevens Pass, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Season: Summer-Late 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
Notes: The final half mile of this trail is very steep and you may want to bring hiking poles to help with balance.
Getting there:
Click here for the TH location on Google Maps
The directions linked above are accurate, so be sure to follow those. Do note that if you’re coming from the west over Stevens Pass, you’ll first turn left onto a short portion of the road that takes you to an intersection with the west-bound lanes, which you should carefully cross to get onto NF-6700.
View from the summit, early November 2020
View of the trail up Mount McCausland, early November 2020
Hike description:
Begin by hiking along the Smithbrook trail, which starts out flat before shortly reaching a series of moderate switchbacks. You’ll stay on this trail for 1.2 miles as you gain about 700 feet of elevation gain and walk by some impressively large boulders. At 1.2 miles you’ll reach an intersection with the PCT, where you’ll turn left to start hiking south.
Hike along the PCT for 1.4 miles on a very gradual incline. You’ll get some peekaboo views of summits across Highway 2, but for the most part you can hike this portion quite quickly. As you crest a saddle 2.6 miles from the trailhead you’ll come to an obvious but unmarked intersection. Turn right here to start hiking uphill towards Mount McCausland.
View from the summit of Mount McCausland, early November 2020
View from the trail up to Mount McCausland, early November 2020
The final 0.5 miles to the summit are quite steep, and you should be particularly careful if the ground is wet or snowy. As you gain the final 700 feet, the views behind you quickly grow, as nearby Lichtenberg Mountain and Lake Valhalla come into view. As you continue to climb the views only get better, and you’ll want to spend some time at the top taking them all in. Be sure to hike along the summit ridge to see some great views of Glacier Peak and other summits to the north. Enjoy the views up here as you can before beginning the quick descent back to the PCT and then the trailhead.