P3 Loop (Hard Hike)

Come out and hike Putrid Pete’s Peak (P3) and loop around past Mason Lake!

Distance: 9+ miles
Elevation Gain: 3,000+ ft.
Difficulty: Hard

Let’s get out and enjoy the nice weather with a tour of our I-90 mountains. We’ll start from the Ira Spring Trailhead and head up the P3 trail. This is a very steep trail and we’ll gain 3,000 ft in just 2 miles. Near the top, be ready to get your hands a little dirty for a bit of moderate scrambling (class 2-3) to get up to the top of the ridge. From the top, we will rest a bit and enjoy our amazing views! From the summit, we will cross over to the main Defiance trail and follow it around to Mason Lake, rather than descend the steep terrain we just came up.

If you’ve got extra juice and a sense of adventure, this trail has several peaks you can add on. Web Mountain is a short distance from P3 and involves picking your way along a ridge. Mount Defiance is just a short detour from the return trail. If you’ve got a lot of extra stamina and don’t want to go home, Bandera Mountain is also right there. We will move gradually and enjoy a nice long day (7-8 hours on trail) in the mountains.

The snow is mostly melted out and the trickier sections should be clear. Please bring microspikes just in case though. It’ll be very warm, so sunscreen and at least 2L of water. If you bring a water filter, you can refill at Mason Lake.

Download this GPS map for alltrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/mount-defiance-via-dirty-harry-s-peak-trail-and-mason-lake-loop
We will be starting from the Ira Spring Trail, so the distances will be different than alltrails, but this still shows the loop.

Riders should give $20 to their drivers for gas. Bring a plastic bag to place your boots in after the hike. A Northwest Forest Pass or an America the Beautiful Pass is required to park at the trailhead. The road is a little rough, so a SUV or sturdier sedan is recommended for drivers.

Important: You and yourself alone are responsible for your own safety. Please know your abilities before signing up.