Bismarck Peak rises prominently along Nelson Ridge inside the William O. Douglas Wilderness. It lies south of Mount Aix, the highest point in the region1, and shares the rugged ridgetop with Rattlesnake Peaks to the east. Meanwhile, wilderness itself was named after U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas2, an advocate for preserving the area’s natural beauty.
See more trip photos here.
Bismarck Peak at a Glance
Access: Pear Butte Trailhead
Round Trip: 16.6 miles
Elevation Range: 3660′-7585′
Essential Gear: helmet
Route Info: Tynan Ramm-Granberg
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance
Playlist: Beats, Dark, Melancholy
A Bumpy Start to Pear Butte Trailhead
We began on National Forest Roads 1800 and 1808, where the pavement soon ended before the rocky path. Conditions increasingly worsened as we approached the trailhead, making for a slow drive. The bridge over Copper Creek showed visibly deteriorating wooden boards, which made me question their ability to support vehicle weight.
Once on the trail, we immediately navigated several dozen downed trees, typical of the less-traveled backcountry. Spur trails from animals and humans around piles of larger debris would sometimes create some confusion. Nonetheless, the lower forest required a bit of route-finding until the rubble faded as we gained elevation.
A Last-Minute Decision for a Day Trip
I initially planned an overnight trip, but decided against it after seeing how incredibly arid the area was. The few trickling streams and a lack of snow in the west basin were unappealing for an overnight stay. After stashing our camping gear midway through, Connor and I committed to tackling Bismarck Peak in a long day.
This was the complete opposite of what we experienced in June on Hawkeye Point, where there was far too much snow. Back then, we struggled to find a dry patch of ground ideal for camping, a contrast to this trip. Meanwhile, distant wildfire smoke crept in during the late morning and quickly obscured views of the landscape.
An Elusive Path Toward Bismarck Peak
The lower Pear Butte Trail was relatively flat until the switchbacks at mile 1.5. It then led us to the ridgetop at 4950 feet, a 500-foot gain over a half-mile. For the next three miles, the path wound through several ridge bumps, bypassing most of them from the west side. The trail fork was unintuitive, as we needed to descend south briefly before seeing the sign.
Once the stunning Mount Rainier appeared from behind the western ridges, it became the focal point. The prominent Bismarck Peak was also visible to the east from the moment we gained the ridgetop. However, Mount Aix was not visible until we stood on the summit. Soon, Mount Adams appeared behind the high points inside Goat Rocks Wilderness.
Navigating the Parched Terrain
The area was bone-dry, and Connor and I shared four liters of water until the west basin. However, earlier we found a small water pool a short way north below the junction. Despite being full of tadpoles and frogs, the pup happily soaked himself in the murky pond. Getting water from Copper Creek in the ravine near the trailhead required too much effort.
The old trail to the mountain’s southwest saddle was initially faint but manageable toward our destination. The path briefly disappeared by a scree slope near the meadow before we relocated it to stay on track. It was a hot day from 10 AM onward, so we kept a steady pace while stopping for heat breaks when needed.
A Rocky Ascent and a Hasty Return
Meanwhile, mosquitoes resumed their relentless attack once the breeze died down. After stopping for water from a dwindling stream in the west basin, we missed a sharp turn uphill and scrambled to the ridge. The final 1000 feet was a mixture of loose rocks and choss, which could easily send us downhill if not treading carefully.
We hugged the crest through buttresses and scree, eventually stumbled on a faint trail several hundred feet below the summit. From the top of Bismarck Peak, we were soon greeted with expansive, smoky ridges and notable high points, including Pear Butte. Due to the heat, we only made a brief visit before retracing our steps for the long return.
- William O. Douglas Wilderness: Topography. ↩︎
- Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Wilderness: William O. Douglas. ↩︎