Devils Peak by Helena Peak is the seventh tallest peak in Inner Mountain Loop after Stillaguamish Peak. A stone’s throw away from Mountain Loop Highway, it’s also easily accessible via Coal Creek. Like the neighboring summits, the high point offers spectacular views of the area.
See more trip photos here.
For Devils Peak in the Pasayten Wilderness, check out this post.
Devils Peak at a Glance
Access: NF-4052
Round Trip: 7.3 miles
Elevation Range: 2000‘ -5456′
Gear: snowshoes, ice ax, rock
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: no
Road 4054
I first saw Devils Peak from Helena Peak four years ago. The north face looked quite gnarly, and so I never thought about climbing it. But I’ve since discovered the standard east route. So I went to visit the peak alone.
In the late morning, I arrived at Road 4054 junction adorned with beer cans. Later, snow showed up at the first switchback. So I beelined northwest uphill while staying south of the creek off Devils Lake basin.
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The Final Stretch
At 3000′, I put on snowshoes in the slush. Later I made it into the basin at 3800′ and got the first glimpse of Devils Peak. Up until now, the snow had been in direct sunlight, so it was pretty wet.
Then I continued northwest up to 4400′ before going west and up the steep eastern slopes. Meanwhile, marshmallow snow was weighing down my snowshoes with every step.
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Devils Peak Summit Views
Soon, I reached the south notch below the top and stashed snow gear by a boulder. Then I moved up the south side through 20 to 25 feet of class 4, exposed area using decent holds. That, in turn, put me on the narrow ledge.
From there, I carefully walked up to the end of the ramp while staying close to the wall. Then I made a left by the set of rappel bolts. Shortly, I finished the final stretch on class 2 terrain.
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Devils Peak Summit Views
Views up here were amazing. But, of course, I would say that to just about any place when the weather is decent. From here, many notable peaks around Mountain Loop Highway we’re all visible.
It felt incredible to see places the dogs and I had been on together. They included Helena Peak, Marble Peak, Long Mountain, to name a few.
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Outro
Down on the ledge, I rappelled off a live tree adorned with lots of webbing. But I backed up with my own to be safe. My 60-meter rope was enough to get me down to the snow 200′ below. En route, I made a side trip over to the notch to retrieve my snow gear.
Later I plunge-stepped down the slope and put on snowshoes back in the trees. Snow had worsened considerably in the late afternoon with constant tripping over fun. Low clouds rolled in as I made my way out of the basin. Back at the car, I collected the nine empty beer cans and then drove home.
See more trip photos here.
