View of Whittier Peak from Poet Ridge. Picture provided by Charlie Hickenbottom.
A ridge hike you can easily make shorter or longer than the description described below. On clear days, hikers will have views of Nason Ridge, the Wenatchee Mountains, Mt. Stuart, and Mt. Rainier. Pictures and picture captions provided by Charlie Hickenbottom.
The route heading east toward Whittier from a location just north of Longfellow Mountain. Picture provided by Charlie Hickenbottom.
Maps. View our topo map below. Note: use ‘Print Preview’ before printing to properly scale this map to a full sheet of paper.
Activity: Hiking
Nearest Town: Lake Wenatchee
Skill Level: 2
Fitness Level: 2
Distance: Roundtrip to The Bump: 6 miles; roundtrip to Poe Mountain: 7 miles
Elevation: Gain to The Bump: 1,900 ft; Gain to Poe Mountain: 2,200 ft.
The trail is visible on the southwest slopes of Poet Ridge between Longfellow Mountain and Poe Mountain. Picture provided by Charlie Hickenbottom.
Access. Drive Highway 2 toward Stevens Pass. Turn north on Lake Wenatchee Highway and follow the road to the Lake Wenatchee Ranger Station. From here, continue 1.8 miles to a “Y” where you will take a left onto Little Wenatchee River Road (FS Road 65). About a mile past Soda Springs Campground, head right on Road 6504. Four miles later, you will reach another junction. Stay right on Road 6504. Continue another 2 miles to Irving Pass trailhead at the end of the road.
Trip Instructions. Follow the Irving Pass Trail 0.5 miles to Irving Pass. Take a left and continue 0.25 miles to an unlabeled junction. One old trail will drop down to Cockeye Creek and camping options. Instead of following this trail, continue along the ridge. About 0.5 miles after Irving Pass, the views will start to appear. You can continue as long as energy and interest last. The trail crosses meadows and rock gardens and, 3 miles from the trailhead, dips below “The Bump.” From here, the trail moves down to a saddle and contours Poe Mountain before meeting Poe Mountain Trail.
Looking north towards Bryant Peak on Poet Ridge and Glacier Peak in the background. Picture provided by Charlie Hickenbottom.
Additional Information: This trip report was compiled from Karen Sykes’ report for the Seattle PI (July 27, 2000) Click here to read the article. For current details on trail and road conditions, call the Lake Wenatchee Ranger District (509-763-3103).
View looking north to Longfellow Peak from Poet Ridge. Picture provided by Charlie Hickenbottom.
Updated Condition Reports. See the comments section below for trail condition updates.
Leave It Better Than You Found It. This should be every outdoor user’s goal. Pick up trash left by others, pull some noxious weeds along your route, throw branches over unwanted spur trails, don’t ride or walk wet trails when you’re leaving ruts/footprints deeper than ¼ inch…
Disclaimer. Treat this information as recommendations, not gospel. Conditions change, and those contributing these reports are volunteers–they may make mistakes or may not know all the issues affecting a route. You are still completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. If you can’t live with that, you are prohibited from using our information.
Charlie Hickenbottom gave a trail update on 9/21/17:
The Poe Mountain Trail has a few blowdowns, but none that are difficult for a hiker to cross. Brush (alder, sumac, devils club, blueberry) is extensive, not hiding the trail, but encroaching. On a wet day a hiker would get a full soaking to chest height. The Poet Ridge trail begins on the ridgecrest just north of Poe Mountain and follows the ridge northward a short ways. It then drops and follows south facing slopes as the trail works its way northwest towards Longfellow Mountain. Point 6429′ is easily ascended from the south. Point 6540′ (south peak of Longfellow) can be reached by ascending more or less straight up the hillside towards the high point from the Poet Ridge Trail. For Longfellow, proceed on the Poet Ridge Trail past the campsite that sits below Point 6540′, go around a corner, and enter a basin directly below the summit of Longfellow. Leave the trail here and circle the basin in an ascending traverse, taking on the ridge crest above when northwest of the peak. A minimal scratch trail crosses the ridge crest and ascends the northeast slope towards the summit. With care the climb can remain steep class 2 with little to no use of the hands