Mt. Phelps and the Snoqualmie Tree Farm in distance
Going up the East Face
Tolt Reservoir and the Olympic Mountains across the Puget Sound lowlands
McClain Peaks
WillhiteWeb.com - Washington Hiking & Climbing
Access:
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,500 feet
Summit Elevation: 5,535 feet
Access: Gravel
The Route:
Take Ballarat Street north off North Bend Way in old North Bend. Follow this road becoming 108th St. then 428th Ave NE. In 8 miles pass the Spur 10 gate, at 18.5 miles is the Sunday Creek Road, and at 20 miles is the Lennox Creek Road (turn left here). Drive 3 miles looking for FS Road 5736 (Signed 113). Drive up Road 113 1.2 miles to Blackhawk Mine, it's a bit rough in places but still possible for 2WD cars.
McClain Peaks is a little known peak perfect for a winter ascent for fabulous views of Seattle, Bellevue, the Tolt Reservoir and other North Fork Snoqualmie Peaks. A lesser more challenging peak, Mt. Phelps can be climbed as well from the high saddle. There is some debate as to which peak should have which name. I'll use the ones on the USGS maps below although I have always looked at them as switched. McClain Peaks is one of the few peaks I've climbed twice. The second time was from the valley bottom because snow restricted our car from progressing. On this second trip, we did a more difficult route up the east face.
From the end of road 113, we hiked up the right side of Blackhawk Mine Creek. Logging debris has made this a bit of a pain, so one could go up the left side of the creek in the trees. Once past the clear-cut, the old-growth forest is easy snowshoeing. Work your way up to the saddle between McClain Peaks and Mt. Phelps. Take a right on the ridge and follow it to the summit.
McClain Peaks
McClain Peaks from Lennox
Chute up the east face route
Going up the East Face
Mt. Phelps
Views
Looking North
Mount Index
Easiest route
