Greenway Mountain by Change Peak via Zig Zag Trail + Hall Creek / 格林威山

  • Reading time:8 mins read

Greenway Mountain by Change Peak overlooks Chester Morse Lake of Cedar River Watershed. Zig Zag Trail via Hall Creek offers a direct way to the summit. Meanwhile, to the west perches Rattlesnake Ledge above Green Valley.

The final stretch on Greenway Mountain
The final stretch on Greenway Mountain

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Greenway Mountain at a Glance

Access: Hall Creek Trailhead
Round Trip: 8.7 miles
Elevation Range: 1240′-4440′
Gear: microspikes, snowshoes
Route Info: Joanne Najdzin
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes

A New Way to Greenway Mountain

It was our third visit to Greenway Mountain in eight years. The times before, we started from Mount Washington Trailhead to the top of Change Creek around Change Peak. Then we’d hug the ridgetop and walk the service road.

But we took the excellent Zig Zag Trail via Hall Creek Trailhead this time. It’s a path I didn’t know existed until this trip while looking at the nearby trails! Say what?! But using a new route to an old stomping ground is refreshing.

First light on Mount Teneriffe
First light on Mount Teneriffe

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Zig Zag Trail

We walked half a mile on Hall Creek Trail to Hall Creek Trestle, part of the Palouse to Cascades Trail. Then Zig Zag Trail went straight up the slope at the road fork. As the name implies, the path went through many switchbacks.

The lower path was mainly dry before snow patches appeared at the trail’s top. Soon, views expanded midway up the steep route. Places like Mount Si and Mailbox Peak were visible through the dense forest.

Change Peak in the AM
Change Peak in the AM

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Road 9023

After gaining 1200′ over .75 miles, we reached Road 9023. Judging by the tire marks, there were recent activities. More snow appeared beyond the end of the drivable roadway. It was freezing in the shade despite being sunny.

I put on snowshoes in continuous snow before reaching the Hall Creek Trail fork in under a mile. Though on the map, I couldn’t find the path for some reason. Soon, we walked over a mile to Road 9023-410.

This way to Greenway Mountain
This way to Greenway Mountain

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Upper Basin

By now, walking the road had become tedious. At the same time, I didn’t feel like making two long switchbacks to the ridge. So from the fork, we left the path and continued to the top of the boulder basin.

We went through the massive snowy talus in the basin with an open view behind us. Then we scrambled south in the dense trees over icy slopes. Then we went through several steep places below the road at 4200′.

Hall Creek Basin north view of Web Mountain
Hall Creek Basin north view of Web Mountain

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Greenway Mountain Summit Views

Above the trees, we walked half a mile in the precious sunlight to the top of Greenway Mountain. The northern half of the summit was woodsy without views. But we spent most of our time there dodging the wind gusts.

Despite the sun, it was subfreezing due to the wind chill. Like before, we enjoyed the vast southern vistas and savored the warmth. There were also partial views in the other directions by peeking through tree branches.

Southern panorama from Greenway Mountain
Southern panorama from Greenway Mountain

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Outro

Hall Creek Basin didn’t see much sun today. And we would soon lose all the heat once we returned to the woods. Glad that I decided to bypass the road since it had shaved off quite a bit of distance each way.

I had thought about exploring Hall Creek Trail. But I still couldn’t find the trail fork on our way down. Later we saw a few folks at the end of the drivable roadway. It sounded like they had come up through Mine Creek. And now for the steep exit.

Exiting Hall Creek Basin
Exiting Hall Creek Basin

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