Pugh Ridge

This scenic ridge separates the North Fork Entiat and South Fork Pyramid Creek valleys. The south approach to the ridge is a good early season hike, with slopes melted out clear to the ridgetop. Several blowdowns across the trail would have been nagging for stock, but hikers will have no trouble getting over or around. Views from Point 6282′ just off the trail include a few trees limiting the view, but are good of the Chelan Mountains from Crow Hill to Cardinal Peak.

Maps: View our topo map below for more information or consult USGS Pyramid Mountain map.

Note: use ‘Print Preview’ before printing to properly scale this map to a full sheet of paper.

Activity: Hiking
Nearest Town: Entiat
Skill Level: 2
Fitness Level: 3
Distance: 11.25 miles round trip to Viewpoint 6,800’, 13.75 miles round trip for circuit route described.
Elevation: 2,860 foot gain to Viewpoint 6,800’

Access:
Drive 97A just north of the bridge crossing the Entiat River. Turn (west) and drive up the Entiat River Road 33 miles (roughly 3 miles past Silver Falls). Turn right on Forest Road 5606 and follow it about 3 miles to the North Fork of the Entiat Trailhead. The road is in good shape to the North Fork Entiat Trailhead. On midday Saturday of a holiday weekend, our vehicle pushed the total cars in the parking lot to 4.

Trip Instructions:
–Follow the North Fork of the Entiat Trail for about 2.75 miles to Pugh Creek
(a nice campsite along the North Fork Entiat River exists just downhill from the start of the Pugh Ridge Trail).
–The Pugh Ridge Trail parallels an unnamed creek and water from this creek is available as high as an elevation of about 6000′. After the snow melts from Pugh Ridge, there will be no water up on the ridge top. The trail reaches a nice viewpoint at 6,800 feet about 2.8 miles from the North Fork of the Entiat River. This is a nice turnaround point. To enjoy the view longer, walk along the ridge for as much as another mile, then turn around.
–Parties interested in making a longer circuit of the day can walk the ridge from the first viewpoint for a mile, then drop down into South Pyramid Creek and follow the trail bordering the creek downhill back to the North Fork of the Entiat River ( a total of about 6.75 miles from Viewpoint 6,800). A final 1.2 miles along the North Fork of the Entiat River leads back to the car. NOTE: This section of the trail crosses South Pyramid Creek several times and sometimes the hewn-logged bridges get washed out in spring. If you’re not sure of the bridges, do the route in mid to late summer when the creek can be forded if the bridges are missing.

Trip Reporters: Charlie Hickenbottom and Andy Dappen

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.