Revision as of 17:17, 29 November 2017

Ridge of meadows, Grassy Knoll Trail (bobcat)

Shady Douglas-fir woods, Grassy Knoll Trail (bobcat)

View of Grassy Knoll, Grassy Knoll Trail (bobcat)

View to Mt. Adams, Grassy Knoll Trail (bobcat)

Lupine, balsamroot, paintbrush and mariposas, Grassy Knoll Trail (bobcat)

• Start point: Crest Camp Trailhead
• End point: Big Huckleberry Mountain
• Hike Type: In and out
• Distance: 12.6 miles
• Elevation gain: 1710 feet
• High Point: 4,202 feet
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Seasons: Summer into Fall
• Family Friendly: No
• Backpackable:Yes
• Crowded: No

Hike Description

The Big Lava Bed is a vast and impressive volcanic feature to the east and south of Indian Heaven and is part of that area’s volcanic field. In fact, the 8,200 year-old lava flows resulted from Indian Heaven’s most recent eruptive event: they originated from an unnamed cinder cone in the north-central section of the bed. While adventurous hikers can foray into the trailless wilderness of the Big Lava Bed itself (Be careful – it is very difficult to stay oriented and hikers have literally disappeared there), others can enjoy the feature by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail along its western border. The trail eventually takes to a high ridge and a diversion peels off to the summit of Big Huckleberry Mountain, site of a former lookout. There are two good campsites along the way, each near springs that flow all year.

Pick up the Pacific Crest Trail on the south side of the road as it skirts to the right of a picnic table. Hike through a bear-grass/huckleberry understory under a canopy of mountain hemlock, silver fir, noble fir, western white pine, and lodgepole pine. The trail at first winds through mossy lava outcroppings at the northwestern corner of the Big Lava Bed. Then you will be walking just beyond the western edge of the lava flow. From time to time, you will hear pika alarm calls issuing from the lava. An unnamed cinder cone hoves into view ahead before you cross another tongue of lava. The Pacific Crest Trail swings abruptly to the left along the base of this forested cone and then drops along a mossy carpet with the high wall of the lava bed looming to the left. Pass springwater issuing from a pipe and descend through a lush thimbleberry thicket. Pass a large noble fir and continue on through a vine maple thicket. Douglas-fir and western hemlock join the conifer mix. Pass a campsite on the right and then reach an unmarked junction: the trail leading right proceeds 0.2 miles to an FR 6801 (Before the completion of the current Pacific Crest Trail route, this was where the Cascade Crest Trail resumed south of Indian Heaven).

Keep left as the trail rises up a slope with rhododendrons and vine maple above and bear-grass below. Switchback and traverse up through a carpet of vanilla leaf, pathfinder, little wild rose, and Solomon plume. Switchback again and then enter a regenerating clearcut, where the trail drops a little to make the traverse. Wind along a broad ridge crest and cross an old four-wheel drive track among old-growth Douglas-firs and hemlocks. Gradually descend and pass a spur leading right to a campsite above a mossy spring. Note the big Douglas-firs and noble firs in this lush draw. Traverse. and then switchback to continue up the steep eastern slope of the ridge. Pass across a couple of meadows that bloom with aster, lupine, paintbrush, and yarrow in the summer. Then, hike through a lush thimbleberry/Sitka alder thicket that offers a view to Mount Adams. Reach a grassy expanse at a saddle with another vista east and north to Little Huckleberry Mountain across the Big Lava Bed and also Mount Adams. The trail makes a level traverse in shady woods before dropping to the junction with the spur trail leading left to the summit of Big Huckleberry Mountain: this junction is ten yards from the Pacific Crest-Grassy Knoll Trail Junction.

Head up to the left rather steeply before reaching the gravelly area at the summit of Big Huckleberry Mountain. Stay cables and a few nails and shards of glass are all that remain of the lookout. Trees have grown up since the lookout was removed in the 1960s, but you can still see Mount Adams to the northeast; Mount Hood is also clearly visible from a couple of vantage points. Stonecrop, common juniper, yarrow, and spreading phlox carpet this open area. You can follow the foot trail to the right to pass through a corridor of trees and reach a secluded campsite. Beyond this, there’s another open ridge crest that offers a good view south to Mount Hood.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder
• Green Trails Maps: Wind River, WA #397
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mt. Adams Ranger District
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Gifford Pinchot National Forest
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail: Map #9 Southern Washington
• Pacific Crest Trail Pocket Maps: Oregon & Washington
• Halfmile's PCT Maps: Washington Section H

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Big Huckleberry Mountain

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Big Huckleberry Mountain

Guidebooks that cover this hike

• Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Washington by Tami Asars
• Day Hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon & Washington by George & Patricia Semb
• Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon & Washington by Jeffrey P. Schaffer & Andy Setters (eBook)

More Links

• Trail #2000 Pacific Crest, Mt. Adams Area (USFS)
• Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Pacific Crest Trail (GORP)
• Campground: Crest Camp/Trailhead (USFS)
• Indian Heaven Volcanic Field (USGS)
• Big Lava Bed (Wikipedia)
• Big Huckleberry Mountain (Summit Post)

Contributors

• bobcat (creator)