Gifford Pinchot National Forest Jumbo Peak Hike Hike 76
Length: 11.2 Miles round trip Elevation Change: 3800' Elevation gain Season: Mid-Summer thru Fall Difficulty: Very Difficult Permit: No Pass Required
Please be advised that the road has been cleared.
Features:
This hike used to begin off Forest Road 2324.063 which is
off Forest Road 23. This was the same approach to Sunrise Peak,
which allowed you to drive up much of the elevation.
Now you have to begin the hike along
Forest Road 23 just east of the bridge across East
Canyon Creek.
This hike is still a jewell. You will need to climb
the 3800 feet of elevation now, to get to the top
of Jumbo Peak, but it is so worth it!
The Trail is #263, and immediately you are faced with
the daunting challenge of getting across East Canyon
Creek. At the time of this writing, there is an excellent
natural bridge in the form of a huge fallen log.
After getting across the creek and on to the trail,
you will be hiking along an old abandoned road for
a short distance before the trail turns and follow
Dark Creek.
The trail continues along Dark Creek for about a mile
and a third before crossing it. This crossing can also
pose a real challenge. The amount of debris across the
creek will likely give you plenty of places to cross.
It is when you cross Dark Creek that you really begin
to climb the wall to Juniper Ridge and the trail to
Jumbo Peak. In the next two miles after Dark Creek
you will climb 1400 feet. The trail is extremely steep
at times, but for the most part, it is a steady
reasonable grade. Nearly the entire hike is in the
dense forest until you reach the junction to Trail #261
on Juniper Ridge.
At the junction, bare right and continue climbing toward
Jumbo Peak. It is a little over 2 miles from the Dark
Meadow junction to the base of Jumbo. The trail finally
breaks out above the timber and you are treated to
unparalleled views and in season to incredible floral
displays.
To climb Jumbo Peak, you need to follow the trail along
the western side of the mountain and look for an abandoned
trail breaking off and climbing 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 unparalleled
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
