Purcell Mountain - Trails End

Deep in logging country near Randle is a former lookout site on a summit with over 2,200 feet of prominence. Although a trail goes to the summit, it is not maintained and does not offer much for views. Another approach in summer is possible that has better views and is much shorter. Parts of the original access trail is still hikeable, which starts at highway 12 near the start of the Davis Creek Road turn-off.

Home

Access:

From Randle, follow Highway 12 east to the Davis Creek Road. Take it left and follow pavement to the gravel portion of the Davis Creek Road (about one mile). The gravel Davis Creek Road is a good gravel road that climbs deep into the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The map below shows two options, one is the old trail, the other is a scramble route that has a bit of off trail but is much shorter. To reach the scramble route, follow the Davis Creek Road for 9.6 miles to a sharp left turn. Then continue on a narrow road that is subject to rockslides. At the west ridge of Purcell around 4,480 the road is blocked.

NW Route:

An overgrowing trail follows the old roadway along the west slopes of Purcell Mountain. At a point on the south side where the topo shows an open slope, find a view up the mountain in a drainage. It is brushy for only a minute then it is a class 2 scramble up an interesting washout area. At around 4,900 feet, cut up to the ridge on the right and find the faint old trail. Follow the trail to the summit through meadows and alpine forest.

Distance: 1.5 miles one-way
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
Summit Elevation: 5,422 feet
Access: Good Gravel Roads, last mile bumpy

Rainier South Trips

Waterfalls:

The Davis Creek Road holds a few waterfalls just off the road. The first is when the road crosses Davis Creek Canyon on a very high bridge. Get out and look down. The river comes out of a cave like canyon that is very intriguing. Further up the road, at a creek crossing with a huge boulder on the side of the road is a waterfall in a bowl. Finally, at the trailhead for the old trail, a creek slides down the rocks, but scrambling up the slide area will reveal a waterfall further up.

Purcell Mountain from the Davis Creek Road

Davis Falls

Goat Rocks

Mount Rainier

Cowlitz Valley

Looking southeast

Route to the summit

Whalehead Ridge

Highrock Lookout

Scramble route uses the right side of this draw

Parking area for the west side route

Views from the old road you walk

Former Lookouts

Lookout History:

In 1933, a ground cab lookout was built.
In 1934, panoramic images were taken from 10 feet above the ground on top of the cab (stove pipe in picture).
In the 1950s, the ground house was abandoned.
In the 1960s, the ground house was destroyed.

Purcell in 1938

1937 Recreation map

Southwest 1934

North 1934

Southeast 1934

Charles Boyer, 1938

1940 Columbia National Forest Map