July 1, 2018

You have probably heard of Mount Ellinor. That's the mountain all your friends want to go hike up on the weekend because it has awesome views and you occasionally see a mountain goat. You might never have heard of Mount Washington, and there's a reason for that. Where Mount Ellinor is nicely paved like I-5 and might even offer online delivery services, Mount Washington throws you straight into the forest following a barely-there trail while holding onto tree roots to make your way up a steep hill. This one isn't for grandma.

Rocky gully on Mount Washington disappearing into fog, with yellow wildflowers growing between the rocks

At the house, it was a clear, warm day in July, but nobody told Mount Washington. As soon as we broke out of the forest, we were in the clouds. There was still plenty of snow left in the shady parts as we made our way up to the peak. Those patches did give us the opportunity to glissade on the way back down, which is always fun! If this one still sounds too easy, try The Brothers.

Trail details

Distance: about 4 miles round trip
Elevation gain: about 3,190 feet
Trailhead: on Forest Road 2419; download directions first because cell service is spotty
Passes: Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass
Difficulty: a class 3 scramble with some exposed class 3 and 4 moves along the ridge, plus scree in summer and avalanche-prone snow earlier in the year; you need route-finding skills
Compared with Mount Ellinor from its upper trailhead: 3.2 miles round trip and about 2,400 feet of gain
Source: WTA (checked October 2026)

Two hikers climbing a snowfield on Mount Washington in thick fog Snow-streaked ridges and forested valleys below Mount Washington as clouds start to lift Jagged rocky peak with snow chutes and low clouds, seen from the ridge on Mount Washington Looking down a rocky ridge on Mount Washington at two hikers resting beside a snow patch in the fog Craggy ridgeline on Mount Washington fading into fog A hiker with a backpack standing on the rocky ridge of Mount Washington with fog all around Rock towers on Mount Washington's ridge above a snow patch, with clouds over the valley beyond Steep snowfield below the rocky ridge on Mount Washington, with cloud-filled valleys far below A hiker eating a snack on a boulder while a bearded hiker pops up from behind the rocks Clouds drifting through green valleys and snowy peaks, seen from the top of Mount Washington Jereme standing on a rock near the top of Mount Washington, with clouds and snowy ridges behind him

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