Upper Wenatchee Mountains

A mountainous sub-region within the North-Central Washington Cascades, bounded by Stevens Pass, Union Gap, Pacific Crest Trail, Dishpan Gap, White Pass, White River, Lake Wenatchee, and Nason Creek (US-2). Notable landforms include Indian Head Peak, Mt. Saul, Whittier Peak, Mt. David, Wenatchee Ridge, Labyrinth Mountain, Mt. Howard, and Nason Ridge.

Two backcountry skiers ascend a wide open snow slope below Butcher Creek Knoll on Nason Ridge

Butcher Creek Knoll Ski Tour via Road 6910—Round Mtn Trail (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · March 2, 2013

Trip Date: March 2, 2013 Butcher Creek Knoll Ski Tour Nason RidgeButcher Creek Knoll (5240+ ft) Trip ...

Snow Tours in North-Central WA Cascades Upper Wenatchee Mountains

A skier carves a turn through deep powder snow during the Nason-Smith Ski Traverse

Nason–Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lake Valhalla to Smith Brook (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · March 19, 2011

Trip Date: March 19, 2011 Nason–Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lichtenberg Pass to Smith Brook Nason Creek ...

Nason-Smith Ski Traverse Snow Tours in North-Central WA Cascades Traverses & Loops (Ski) Upper Wenatchee Mountains

Nason Ridge Trail Traverse: Round Mtn to Rainy Pass + Alpine LO + Rock Mtn (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · September 13, 2025

Trip Date: September 12-13, 2025 Nason Ridge Trail Traverse: Round Mountain Trailhead to West Nason Ridge Trailhead Round ...

Favorite Trips Lookout Sites North-Central WA Cascades Traverses & Loops (Trail) Upper Wenatchee Mountains

Theseus & Minotaur Lakes sit in green heather bowls below Labyrinth Mtn in the Henry M Jackson Wilderness

Labyrinth Mtn via Minotaur Lake—Southeast Slope (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · August 23, 1977

Trip Date: August 1977 Labyrinth Mountain Day Climb Minotaur LakeLabyrinth Mountain (6376 ft) Trip Report Summary ...

North-Central WA Cascades The Early Years Upper Wenatchee Mountains

Backcountry skiers eat lunch on the shore of snowy Lake Valhalla during the Nason-Smith Ski Traverse

Nason–Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lake Valhalla to Smith Brook (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · April 28, 2018

Trip Date: April 28, 2018 Nason–Smith Ski Traverse: Stevens Pass to Smith Brook Roadhead Nason Creek ValleyLake ...

Nason-Smith Ski Traverse Snow Tours in North-Central WA Cascades Traverses & Loops (Ski) Upper Wenatchee Mountains

Backcountry skiers glide across the frozen surface of Lake Valhalla during the Nason-Smith Ski Traverse in the Washington Cascades

Nason-Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lake Valhalla to Smith Brook (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · May 21, 2022

Trip Date: May 21, 2022 Nason–Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lichtenberg Pass to Smith Brook Nason Creek ...

Nason-Smith Ski Traverse Snow Tours in North-Central WA Cascades Traverses & Loops (Ski) Upper Wenatchee Mountains

Looking west at Indian Head Peak and the North-Central Cascades from Mt Saul

Mt Saul via Airplane Lake—East Slope—East Face (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · July 5, 1999

Trip Date: July 5, 1999 Mt. Saul Day Climb Indian Creek ValleyAirplane LakeMount Saul (7311 ft) ...

North-Central WA Cascades Upper Wenatchee Mountains

The undulating summit ridge of Rock Mountain is plastered by snow on one side and has dark rock on the other side

Nason Ridge Summit Traverse: Merritt Lake to Rock Lake via Mt Mastiff—Mt Howard—Rock Mtn (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · June 23, 1976

Trip Date: June 22-23, 1976 Nason Ridge Summit Traverse: Mt. Mastiff to Mt. Howard to Rock Mountain Merritt ...

Lookout Sites North-Central WA Cascades The Early Years Traverses & Loops (Alpine) Upper Wenatchee Mountains

A woman and two girls pose on the summit of Labyrinth Mountain

Labyrinth Mtn via Minotaur Lake—Southeast Slope (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · August 9, 2004

Trip Date: August 7-9, 2004 Labyrinth Mountain Climbing Trip & Campout Minotaur LakeLabyrinth Mountain (6376 ft)Theseus ...

Family Trips North-Central WA Cascades Upper Wenatchee Mountains

Looking up a knife-edge snow arete at rocky summit of Lichtenberg Mountain near Stevens Pass, WA

Lichtenberg Mtn Snowshoe Climb via Lichtenwasser Lake—East Slope—North Face—West Ridge (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · February 11, 2022

Trip Date: February 11, 2022 Lichtenberg Mountain Snowshoe Climb Smith Brook FlatsLichtenwasser LakeLichtenberg Mountain (5844 ft) ...

Snow Tours in North-Central WA Cascades Upper Wenatchee Mountains Winter Summits

Backcountry skiers cross a frozen lake on a foggy day

Nason–Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lake Valhalla to Smith Brook (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · April 6, 2013

Trip Date: April 6, 2013 Nason–Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lichtenberg Pass to Smith Brook Nason Creek ...

Nason-Smith Ski Traverse Snow Tours in North-Central WA Cascades Traverses & Loops (Ski) Upper Wenatchee Mountains

Two mountain climbers sit on the summit of Mt David in the Glacier Peak Wilderness

Mt David via White River—Lookout Trail (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Jim Brisbine · August 13, 1976

Trip Date: August 1976 Mt. David Day Hike White River ValleySoutheast David RidgeMount David / Lookout ...

David, Mt (7420 ft) Lookout Sites North-Central WA Cascades The Early Years The Outlier Twelve Upper Wenatchee Mountains

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Upper Wenatchee Mountains

Butcher Creek Knoll Ski Tour via Road 6910—Round Mtn Trail (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Nason–Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lake Valhalla to Smith Brook (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Nason Ridge Trail Traverse: Round Mtn to Rainy Pass + Alpine LO + Rock Mtn (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Labyrinth Mtn via Minotaur Lake—Southeast Slope (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Nason–Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lake Valhalla to Smith Brook (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Nason-Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lake Valhalla to Smith Brook (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Mt Saul via Airplane Lake—East Slope—East Face (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Nason Ridge Summit Traverse: Merritt Lake to Rock Lake via Mt Mastiff—Mt Howard—Rock Mtn (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Labyrinth Mtn via Minotaur Lake—Southeast Slope (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Lichtenberg Mtn Snowshoe Climb via Lichtenwasser Lake—East Slope—North Face—West Ridge (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Nason–Smith Ski Traverse: Nason Creek to Lake Valhalla to Smith Brook (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Mt David via White River—Lookout Trail (Upper Wenatchee Mountains, WA)

Ashley Gorge Via Ferrata Climbs: The Outlaw + Abduction + The Pump + The Soup + Toothy Grin (Uinta Range, UT)

Guye Peak: North Summit + Middle Summit + South Summit via Alpental Valley / Commonwealth Valley (Snoqualmie Range, WA)

McAlester–Rainbow Loop via McAlester Pass—Rainbow Creek—Rainbow Pass—Bridge Creek + McAlester Mtn (North Stehekin Mountains, WA)

Hoodoo Pass Loop via Eagle Lakes—Horsehead Pass—Libby-Crater Saddle—Crater Lake + Mt Bigelow + Crater Peak (Sawtooth Mountains, WA)

Amabilis Mtn Bike Loop via Amabilis Beacon + Amabilis Peak (Keechelus Mountains, WA)

Three Fingers Mtn: South Peak / Lookout Via Meadow Mtn—Goat Flats—Tin Can Gap—Southwest Side (West Sauk Mountains, WA)

Defiance Trail Traverse: Thompson Pass to Hemlock Pass via Mason Pass—Pratt Pass + Mt Defiance (Lower Snoqualmie Range, WA)

LaCrosse Pass Loop via Enchanted Valley—O’Neil Pass—Duckabush River—Dosewallips River—Anderson Pass (Olympic Mountains, WA)

Granite Mtn via Hyas Lake—Tuck Lake—Robin Lakes—Northwest Ridge (Upper Icicle Mountains, WA)

Glacier Basin Climbing Reconn: Monte Cristo Peak attempt + Cadet Peak attempt (Monte Cristo Mountains, WA)