Glacier Peak Wilderness: Poe Mountain via Poet Ridge
This 2.5-mile climb up huckleberry hillsides and a fir-dotted ridgetop leads to expansive views of Glacier Peak Wilderness from the top of Poe Mountain.
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This 5-miler starts out gently on an abandoned road lined with deerbrush and alder trees, then climbs through an old, clear-cut area. Pass huckleberries, hummingbirds, and seasonal wildflowers before heading into a deep fir forest. After 1.8 miles, the route swings to the northwest near Irving Pass and travels along the spine of Poet Ridge (Wenatchee Ridge on USGS topo maps). Watch for views of the White and Chiwawa mountains that start to appear along the ridge after 0.5 mile. (In the fall, you’ll find huckleberries and stunning, crimson-colored hillsides.) At mile 2.3, bear right at an unsigned junction for the final 750-foot stretch to the top of Poe Mountain.
-Mapped by Alan Bauer, Alan Bauer Photography
Trail Facts
- Distance: 8.1
Waypoints
POE001
Location: 47.8952866, -121.0359802
Before the hike, look south and west for incredible views overlooking the Little Wenatchee River valley toward Nason Ridge. Next, head north for a gentle climb on a long abandoned old road; pass deerbrush and alder trees.
POE002
Location: 47.8961563, -121.0351028
The trail takes an obvious left turn off the road bed and heads up the slope through an old clear-cut area. Huckleberries, hummingbirds, and wildflowers thrive in this open terrain. In a few hundred yards, head into deep forest of old firs.
POE003
Location: 47.8998947, -121.034584
Irving Pass: Turn left @ 3-way, heading northwest. Follow trail through dense forest for a steep climb up the hillside.
POE004
Location: 47.9007607, -121.0368195
Hike northwest; the terrain levels along Poet Ridge (Wenatchee Ridge on USGS topo maps). Seasonal wildflowers flourish as the forest opens along the ridge.
POE005
Location: 47.9017372, -121.040741
Stay left @ unsigned Y-junction to remain on the ridgeline trail; a faint boot path drops off the ridge on the right.
POE006
Location: 47.9041519, -121.0449982
Ridgetop views start to appear to the northeast toward the White Mountains and Chiwawa Mountains and to the southwest toward Grizzly Peak.
POE007
Location: 47.9073486, -121.0502853
Photo op: Snap shots of Mount David to the northeast and the Panther Creek valley to the east. Continue hiking northwest through open meadows speckled with seasonal wildflowers (in the fall, you’ll find huckleberries and stunning, crimson-colored hillsides).
POE008
Location: 47.911747, -121.056633
Stay left @ unsigned Y-junction. Trail descends slightly through a lush gully (filled with glacier lilies in July).
POE009
Location: 47.9142494, -121.0611267
Bear right @ unsigned junction for the final 750-foot stretch to the top of Poe Mountain, a former lookout site.
POE010
Location: 47.9159737, -121.0621796
Poe Mountain: A sea of peaks surrounds this 6,015-foot summit. To the north and northeast, look for Longfellow, Bryant, Whittier peaks, and snowcapped Rainier in the distant southwest. Retrace your route.
Fall Colors on Poet Ridge
Location: 47.8998947, -121.0345001
Fall Colors on Poet Ridge
Location: 47.8998948, -121.0345002
Fall Colors on Poet Ridge
POE001
Location: 47.8952865, -121.0359802
Before the hike, look south and west for incredible views overlooking the Little Wenatchee River valley toward Nason Ridge. Next, head north for a gentle climb on a long abandoned old road; pass deerbrush and alder trees.
POE002
Location: 47.8961563, -121.0351028
The trail takes an obvious left turn off the road bed and heads up the slope through an old clear-cut area. Huckleberries, hummingbirds, and wildflowers thrive in this open terrain. In a few hundred yards, head into deep forest of old firs.
POE003
Location: 47.8998948, -121.0345841
Irving Pass: Turn left @ 3-way, heading northwest. Follow trail through dense forest for a steep climb up the hillside.
POE004
Location: 47.9007607, -121.0368194
Hike northwest; the terrain levels along Poet Ridge (Wenatchee Ridge on USGS topo maps). Seasonal wildflowers flourish as the forest opens along the ridge.
POE005
Location: 47.9017372, -121.040741
Stay left @ unsigned Y-junction to remain on the ridgeline trail; a faint boot path drops off the ridge on the right.
POE006
Location: 47.9041519, -121.0449982
Ridgetop views start to appear to the northeast toward the White Mountains and Chiwawa Mountains and to the southwest toward Grizzly Peak.
POE007
Location: 47.9073486, -121.0502854
Photo op: Snap shots of Mount David to the northeast and the Panther Creek valley to the east. Continue hiking northwest through open meadows speckled with seasonal wildflowers (in the fall, youâ??ll find huckleberries and stunning, crimson-colored hillsides).
POE008
Location: 47.911747, -121.056633
Stay left @ unsigned Y-junction. Trail descends slightly through a lush gully (filled with glacier lilies in July).
POE009
Location: 47.9142494, -121.0611267
Bear right @ unsigned junction for the final 750-foot stretch to the top of Poe Mountain, a former lookout site.
POE010
Location: 47.9159737, -121.0621796
Poe Mountain: A sea of peaks surrounds this 6,015-foot summit. To the north and northeast, look for Longfellow, Bryant, Whittier peaks, and snowcapped Rainier in the distant southwest. Retrace your route.