McClellan Butte Hike

Getting there
From I-90 take Exit 42 (Tinkham Road) and turn right. Cross the South Fork Snoqualmie and follow the signs a short distance to the new trailhead, rest room and parking area, 0.2 miles off a spur road to the right.

Trail detail
The trail begins from the parking area and climbs a gentle quarter mile through the forest until it intersects the Iron Horse Trail. The trail turns west (right) and follows the Iron Horse Trail for a half mile, passes Alice Creek, and continues on as the McClellan Butte Trail, which begins to climb again through forest. The trail crosses a road at about 2,200 feet and begins a steep climb up the north face of the butte before rounding the east side of the butte. The trail sidehills below cliffs and reaches the south ridge of the peak at 4,500 feet. The trail follows the crest and goes around the east side of the mountain before dropping 100 feet to a small tarn (dry in September). Stay on the main path to the end of the trail, 100 feet from the summit.

Trail data
Nine miles round-trip with an elevation gain of 3,700 feet. This trail is not in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and a portion of it is managed by Lake Easton State Park (the Iron Horse Trail). The Iron Horse Trail is open to horses and bicycles. For current information on the Iron Horse Trail call Lake Easton State Park at 509-656-2586; for information on McClellan Butte call the North Bend Ranger Station at 425-888-1421 (Seattle 206-622-8378). Harvey Manning also describes the trail in "Hiking the Mountains to Sound Greenway (The Mountaineers, 220 pages, $12.95).

Directions. We will meet on the ground floor of the new Issaquah transit center to carpool to the trail head.

Bring some cash to cover the car pool fee and a stop for some coffee/snacks after the hike. 10-15 cents per mile is suggested for riders.

Note: A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park at the trail head.