Trip Date: June 21, 2024

French Cabin Mountain Day Climb

French Cabin Pass
Silver Creek Basin
French Cabin Mountain: west peak (5724 ft)

Trip Report Summary

Region: Central Washington Cascades

Sub-Region: Kachess Mountains

Area: Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest

Starting & Ending Point: French Cabin Creek Trailhead at end of French Cabin Creek Road #4308-132 (Elev. 4150 feet)

Way Points: West Fork French Cabin Creek crossing & Kachess Ridge Trail junction & French Cabin Pass & Silver Creek Basin & Silver Tie Trail junction & south ridge crest (trail hike)

Summit: French Cabin Mountain (off-trail hike & rock scramble via South Ridge)

Approximate Stats: 7.0 miles traveled; 2500 feet gained & lost; 3.2 hours up; 2.7 hours down.

Related Post

>>> Thorp Mountain Loop via French Cabin Creek—Kachess Ridge—Thorp Creek – September 26, 2021

Full Trip Report

French Cabin Mountain comprises a cluster of small peaks located in the Kachess Mountains between Kachess Lake and Cle Elum Lake. It includes three principal summits—identified as the west, south, and north peaks—as well as three crag summits that have been given the whimsical names French Tongue, French Chin, and French Kiss. (What…no French Horn?!) The west peak is the highest of the entire cluster. All summits are composed of volcanic rock (a rhyo-andesite) that forms impressively steep cliffs on the northern aspects.

Eileen and Lisa joined me for an ascent of the west peak on a sunny Friday. We approached the peak via French Cabin Creek Trail #1305, which begins at French Cabin Creek Road #4308-132. The final ½ mile of driving to this trailhead follows a semi-abandoned spur road that is somewhat rough and overgrown but readily passable with a truck or compact SUV. 

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We hiked up the little-used trail, which wanders through sparse forest and open meadows above West Fork French Cabin Creek. Occasional openings provided dramatic views of French Cabin Mountain’s rocky summits. After a short mile, we arrived at a junction with the Kachess Ridge Trail. Here, we turned left (south) and curved around the head of French Cabin Basin.

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Several patches of steep residual snow on the north-facing slope below French Tongue Peak required careful footwork, as we hadn’t brought ice axes. It was a relief to finally reach the flat, snow-free terrain of 5000-foot French Cabin Pass (1.4 hours + 1000 feet from TH).

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From French Cabin Pass, we continued hiking southward on the Kachess Ridge Trail as it descended into the meadowland of Silver Creek Basin. Upon arriving at a junction with the Silver Tie Trail, we turned left (east) and headed uphill toward our objective peak.

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At a point where the Silver Tie Trail crosses over the southern ridge of the west peak, we left the trail and began a cross-country ascent. This involved some Class 2 scrambling along the crest, but a series of game paths on the western side of the ridge offered the easiest travel.

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We stepped onto the 5724-foot summit in early afternoon (3.2 hours + 2050 feet from TH). There was no summit register, so it was not possible to determine how often this peak gets climbed. Our views included the Stuart Range to the northeast, the Snoqualmie Range to the north, and the Iron Horse Mountains to the west.

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For our descent, we stayed on the western side of the ridge and intersected the Silver Tie Trail at a point slightly below the crest. It was then just a matter of hiking down to Silver Creek Basin and back over French Cabin Pass. We reached the trailhead in late afternoon (2.7 hours + 450 feet from summit) to complete a satisfying climb.

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Route Map & Profile

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Photo Gallery

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