Trip Date: September 26, 2021
Thorp Mountain Day Hike & Kachess Ridge Trail Traverse: French Cabin Creek to Thorp Creek
Kachess Ridge
Thorp Mountain / Lookout (5854 ft)
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Kachess Mountains
Area: Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
Starting Point: French Cabin Creek Trailhead at end of French Cabin Creek Road #4308-132 (Elev. 4150 feet)
Traverse Way Points: West Fork French Cabin Creek crossing & Kachess Ridge Trail junction & Kachess Ridge crest & Thorp Lake Saddle & Thorp Mountain Trail junction & Thorp Creek Trail junction & Thorp Creek crossing (trail hike)
Ending Point: Thorp Creek Trailhead on Thorp Creek Road #4312 (Elev. 3550 feet)
Summit: Thorp Mountain (hike via South Ridge)
Approximate Stats (including sidetrip): 7.3 miles traveled; 2650 feet gained; 3250 feet lost; 2.8 hours up; 1.9 hours down.
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Trip Overview
Thorp Mountain represents the highest point in the Kachess Mountains, which separate Lake Cle Elum from Lake Kachess, and is the site of a historic fire lookout. As a hiking destination, Thorp Mountain has at least four reasonable east-side access routes. The most direct (and apparently most popular) route is Thorp Creek Trail #1316, leaving from Thorp Creek Road #4312. Other options include Little Joe Lake Trail #1330.1, leaving from the aforementioned road; Knox Creek Trail #1315.1, leaving from French Cabin Creek Road #4308-120; and French Cabin Creek Trail #1305, leaving from French Cabin Creek Road #4308-132.
All four east-side access trails connect with Kachess Ridge Trail #1315, a north-south arterial that extends for 13 miles through the Kachess Mountains and crosses just under the summit of Thorp Mountain. This network of trails provides an opportunity for various loops and traverses. When Charlie and I found ourselves at Cle Elum River Campground with two vehicles available, after a Saturday of rock climbing at some nearby quartzitic crags, we jumped at the chance to visit the lookout as part of a one-way trail traverse the next day.
Full Trip Report
Charlie and I caravanned up French Cabin Creek Road on a mild and partly cloudy Sunday morning. We left one vehicle at the Thorp Creek Trailhead, then drove around to the French Cabin Creek Trailhead. The final ½ mile of driving to this latter trailhead follows a semi-abandoned spur road that is somewhat rough and overgrown but readily passable with a truck or compact SUV. Not surprisingly, there were no other vehicles there.
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Starting at the forlorn trailhead, Charlie and I hiked up the French Cabin Creek Trail for 1 mile to a junction with the Kachess Ridge Trail. The ascent trail is a bit rutted by motorcycles, but the craggy peaks of French Cabin Mountain present a tantalizing image from this junction.
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We headed north along the Kachess Ridge Trail for 3 miles, swinging back and forth over the crest, dipping into saddles, and crossing over wooded knolls. This trail is very pleasant, with a more untrampled feeling than the previous trail. There were occasional views of Lake Keechelus down to the west and Thorp Mountain out to the north.
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After 2 miles, our ridge trail passed a junction with the Knox Creek Trail and, in another mile, came to a junction with Thorp Mountain Trail #1315.2. From there, a series of switchbacks took us up to the summit in early afternoon (2.8 hours + 2600 feet from TH). We were immediately greeted by the old lookout cabin.
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The lookout cabin is a gable-roof structure (nicknamed a “grange hall” style) constructed in 1931. It was later decommissioned as a fire lookout and became eligible for the national historic registry. Having last visited this summit 24 years ago, I was wondering about the present condition of the lookout cabin. It was a relief to see that the cabin is not only intact but has received several upgrades, including a wooden catwalk, shutter racks, solar panels, and new paint. The “then & now” pair of photos below show that the basic grange hall configuration is unchanged.
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Charlie and I spent an hour on top admiring the splendid views in all directions. Chimney Rock and the other Snoqualmie Range peaks were particularly marvelous. We also chatted with a pair of brothers, one of whom teaches geology at Central Washington University. In due course, we reached an uncontested conclusion that Thorp Mountain and most of the surrounding landforms consist of slightly metamorphosed sandstone—almost a quartzite. I can say unequivocally that the nearby meta-sandstone crags Charlie took me to yesterday had the funnest rock I’ve ever climbed on!
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To continue our traverse, Charlie and I retraced our steps back to the Kachess Ridge Trail, then hiked 3 miles down the Thorp Creek Trail. At the bottom, we easily rock-hopped across Thorp Creek and walked up a short spur road to our vehicle in late afternoon (1.9 hours + 50 feet from summit). It had been a surprisingly nice traverse, with scenery and weather that far exceeded our expectations.
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Route Map & Profile
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Photo Gallery
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