Gifford Pinchot National Forest Jumbo Peak Hike Hike 76
Length: 6.5 Miles round trip Elevation Change: 1800' Elevation gain Season: Mid-Summer thru Fall Difficulty: Challenging Permit: NW Forest Pass Required Features:
This hike begins off Forest Road 2324.063 which is
off Forest Road 23. This approach to Sunrise Peak
allows you to drive up much of the elevation.
This hike is a jewell. You begin on the same trail
as the Sunrise Peak hike, but at about a mile there
is a junction with the Sunrise Peak trail heading
off to the right. You stay straight ahead.
The trail looses some elevation for just a bit
before it comes to the Juniper Ridge trail. At
this junction, bear left, or south, and begin a
rather serious climb. You will follow Trail #261
the rest of the hike to Jumbo Peak.
The trail climbs around a small hill and you can
look back over the valley at Sunrise Peak to the
north. Soon you will see McCoy Peak to the west,
then in about a half mile you get your first great
views of Jumbo Peak.
The trail continues along the contour of the hill
to a saddle, where you will have extraordinary
views of Mt. Adams to the east. The trail climbs
steeply out of this saddle as you stare ahead at
a magnificent cliff.
At the top of this climb you will find yourself on
the north shoulder of Jumbo Peak. The trail wanders
to the west, then south and skirts the peak on its
western side. I suggest that you hike past the peak
so that you get the incredible views of Jumbo Peak
from the south side looking north.
To climb Jumbo Peak, you need to retrace your steps
and follow the trail back along the western side of
the mountain and look for an abandoned trail breaking
off and up between you and the peak.
Follow this abandoned trail to an place where it
overlooks the valley below. It is here that you
need to follow a users trail straight up the west
side of Jumbo Peak. Use extreme caution as this
trail is not maintained or well defined.
From the summit of Jumbo Peak you have unparalled
views of Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, and
the Goat Rocks to the northeast. In July this place
is dripping with wildflowers. Enjoy!!!
A Virtual Hike in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
