Features:

This is a very rewarding hike but seldom traveled. There are two main ways to hike to Shellrock Mountain, from the east and from the south. This description is the south approach. This hike enters the William O. Douglas Wilderness, so you must sign in at the trail head.

This description is the same for those hiking Ironstone Mountain up to the point where one needs to leave the trail and bushwhack up Ironstone. The parking area at the trailhead for this hike (and Ironstone) is large and appears to accommodate horses.

The trail is well marked and begins to climb gently from the parking area. The trail is in and out of forested areas, so you will often get glimpse of Mt. Adams and the Goat Rocks to the south and southwest.

The final distance to Russel Ridge gets a little steep but not bad. At the top of the ridge, the trail is marked but yet it gets a little sketchy. Trail #1141 descends into a bit of a valley but it is a little confusing on the ridge as to just where the descend begins.

Soon the trail is very obvious and it follows a marshy area and crosses a very small stream. About a half mile from Russel Ridge the trail comes very close to a wide open meadow with a great view of Ironstone Mountain. You will have to just walk a very short distance off the trail to enjoy this vantage.

In another half mile you will come to an area that is open and you can look up at the south side of Ironstone Mountain. This is the place where a person needs to leave the main trail and bushwhack up Iron Mountain.

There isn't an actual trail up Ironstone, so you will need to just wing it. There are very few trees on the south slope of the mountain, so you will have no trouble finding a suitable path to the top. As you climb, you will be treated to amazing views of Mt. Adams and the Goat Rocks to the south, as well as Mt. Rainier to the west.

Looking west towards Mt Rainier from the summit of Ironstone Mountain

How to get there:

   Trailhead:   N46.6588, W121.2356 (click for directions)