Mount Peak (Pinnacle Peak) + Cal Magnusson Trail in Enumclaw / 高山峯

  • Reading time:8 mins read

Mount Peak (Pinnacle Peak, Mount Pete) via Cal Magnusson Trail is south of Enumclaw in Pinnacle Peak Park. The name results from a mondegreen of the word Pete. Despite a modest 1801′ elevation, over half of the mountain’s height makes up its prominence.

Mount Peak (Pinnacle Peak) summit tower
Mount Peak (Pinnacle Peak) summit tower

See more trip photos here.

Mount Peak (Pinnacle Peak) at a Glance

Access: Cal Magnusson Trail (PDF map)
Round Trip: 2.1 miles
Elevation Range: 760′-1801′
Gear: none
Route Info: Bob Lindskov
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes

The Preface

While letting my left foot heal, I looked for a short hike close to home with a modest gain. In the end, I settled on Mount Peak (Pinnacle Peak) in the South Cascades. It’d be gorgeous today, so I expected many out savoring the day.

Knowing we’d see many people, I felt anxious before the trip. Because it’s a city trail, I anticipated runners and off-leash dogs everywhere. But those less polite about yielding to uphill traffic were the most irritating.

Cal Magnusson Trailhead
Cal Magnusson Trailhead

See more trip photos here.

Pinnacle Peak Park

The two main ways to the top are the north and the south. Cal Magnusson Trail is the more common route of the two trails on the north side. Goat Trail is steep but makes an excellent descent route to avoid the mass.

The South route is less strenuous and looks out to Mount Rainier as it crosses the roadway a few times. It’s a little over 1.5 miles to the top if using all trails. In contrast, Cal Magnusson Trail is under a mile each way.

This way to Mount Peak (Pinnacle Peak)
This way to Mount Peak (Pinnacle Peak)

See more trip photos here.

Cal Magnusson Trail

The pups and I began at 6:45 AM with a dozen cars in the north lot. I thought about starting from the south side, but too much of a hassle to reroute and reorganize. So I bit the bullet and tried to stay upbeat.

En route, I met two regulars on their way up. Shortly, two runners came down with their unleashed dogs. Look. If your self-entitlement enabled you to let your pets run free, at least yield to the uphill traffic. Be better.

Trailside view
Trailside view

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The Final Stretch

After seeing two more groups of runners with loose dogs, I didn’t want to go back the same way. Sorry, but your greetings do not help smooth over the lack of basic trail etiquette. It only makes things more awkward.

I took time to study the old-growth forest since it was a short hike. It’s been misty up high, but I knew it’d be sunny soon. Before long, we were by the stone steps leading to the lookout tower, where I met a lone hiker.

Nearing the end
Nearing the end

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Mount Peak (Pinnacle Peak) Summit

I waited for one more couple with their two unleashed dogs to leave the top while chatting with the hiker. He assured me that the less-used Goat Trail was better to return to the car. He had me at “it’s a steep path.”

We didn’t linger by the tower in fear of more crowds coming. So we paid a quick visit and walked a short way down to the log bench afterward. Then we hung out under a memorial plaque by the small clearing.

No views today
No views today

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Leaving Mount Peak (Pinnacle Peak)

After checking out the spotty east views, we dropped onto a steep path on the south. Then it took us around the west over a few trail forks. Shortly, we were on Goat Trail and bypassed Cal Magnusson Trail the entire way.

En route were places to see the White River Valley. Several spots were nearly vertical, with branches and roots to aid the descent. Soon, the path flattened before the trailhead as we walked a short way back to the car.

Finding our way home
Finding our way home

See more trip photos here.

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