Trip Date: September 23, 2018
Hawkins Mountain Day Climb & Big Boulder Loop: Southwest Arm to South Arm
Point 4472 aka Big Boulder Knob
Hawkins Mountain (7120’+)
Big Boulder Creek Valley
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Cle Elum Mountains
Area: Okanogan – Wenatchee National Forest
Starting & Ending Point: Old Big Boulder Creek Roadhead on Cle Elem River Road (Elev. 2900 feet)
Way Points: Big Boulder Creek Trail junction & Big Boulder Knob & Southwest Hawkins Arm & South Hawkins Shoulder & South Hawkins Arm & Point 5202 & Big Boulder Creek Valley & Big Boulder Creek Road (road hike & trail hike & off-trail hike)
Summit: Hawkins Mountain (off-trail hike & rock scramble via South Ridge)
Approximate Stats: 9 miles traveled; 4350 feet gained & lost; 3.9 hours up; 2.8 hours down.
Related Posts
Hawkins Mountain Ski Descent – June 2, 2007
Hawkins Mountain Summit Loop – October 19, 2002
Full Trip Report
Lisa and I combined a climb of Hawkins Mountain with a hiking loop in the Big Boulder Creek drainage, near the northwestern corner of the Teanaway Mountains. We started on the Cle Elum River Road where the old Big Boulder Creek Road branches off to the east. This road was officially decommissioned many years ago, but it can be identified by a cluster of boulders piled up at its head. Look for these boulders about 200 yards past the 2896-foot benchmark shown on topo maps. Parking is available on the main road a few dozen yards to the north.
Although quite overgrown, the old road is still walkable; however, it is better to follow a bootpath that takes off from the first road switchback and runs along the high northern bank of Big Boulder Creek (we tried both options). In about 1 mile, this bootpath intersects the Big Boulder Creek Trail, which is well-maintained and well-traveled. We then continued straight ahead on a northeasterly bearing. Some topo maps show a trail (No. 1228) climbing up the steep hillslope, but it is not shown on other topo maps, nor on Green Trails maps.
We soon found the tread of the long-abandoned trail and followed it up numerous switchbacks to 4472-foot Big Boulder Knob (1.2 hours + 1450 feet from car). We lost the trail for a bit above the knob, but it soon reappeared farther up the hill. Beyond that, it was very easy to follow as it ran atop the long, curving, southwest arm of Hawkins Mountain. This arm is remarkably open and barren, presumably because the composition (texture and/or geochemistry) of the soil does not readily support plant growth.
- Lisa Hiking Up Southwest Arm
- High on Southwest Arm Of Hawkins Mtn
At el. 6560 feet, we reached a flat shoulder where the southwest and south arms of Hawkins Mountains converge. This south shoulder also marks the formal end of the old trail.
- Heading Up To South Shoulder of Hawkins Mtn
From the south shoulder, it was a steep but simple 600-foot hike and scramble up the south ridge of the peak to gain the roomy summit (3.9 hours + 4300 feet from car). Views were pretty much non-existent because a low cloud had parked itself over the peak. Fortunately for Lisa, she was able to look at mountain photos on her phone.
- Lisa On Summit Of Hawkins Mtn
For our descent, we scrambled back down the south ridge, then continued hiking down the long, curving south arm. This arm offers a smooth, barren crest nearly down to Point 5202. Below the point, we descended westerly through sparse forest until reaching the Big Boulder Creek Trail. An easy mile of trail hiking got us back to the abandoned road to close our loop. We then followed the bootpath down to our car (2.8 hours from summit).
- Waterfall In Big Boulder Creek Chasm
Route Map
Photo Gallery
Click to enlarge…
