Kayak Peak by Canoe Peak is a lesser-known gem in the North Fork Snoqualmie River Valley. As with the middle peak of Cascade Mountain, it recently earned a spot on the Alpine Lakes Top 100 list. Moreover, it calls for a day of adventure, a satisfying physical challenge, and promises scenic beauty when weather permits.
See more trip photos here.
Kayak Peak at a Glance
Access: Bare Mountain Trailhead
Round Trip: 8 miles
Elevation Range: 2100′-5744′
Essential Gear: snowshoes, helmet
Route Info: Greg Henriksen
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance
Playlist: Urban
The Road to Bare Mountain Trailhead
The drive through the Campbell Global logging areas remained bumpy. But on the bright side, bridges were in good condition, except for a noticeable dip south of the Lennox Creek Bridge below the summit of Little Kid. However, Road 5700, leading to the trailhead, revealed significant damage since our visit 12 years earlier. Beyond the gutted area was a rocky stretch that required attention.
Despite the rough surface, my trusted car managed the terrain with its decent clearance. Strategic and slow maneuvering was needed to navigate the numerous potholes and protruding rocks. However, with a second person to help spot the obstacles would certainly have helped speed up this part. Oddly enough, it felt like the real crux of the trip!
Trail to Bear Basin Clearing
Once on foot, the lower trail past the trailhead quickly became rocky. More pebbles appeared beyond the quarter-mile mark until after the third switchback. Further up, two batches of downed trees required climbing over to pass. Then we avoided a couple of other trees by ducking under them.
At Bear Creek Falls, what looked to be the same two large logs from our 2011 visit guided the crossing. We walked across the top of the first one past the midpoint, then quickly hopped over rocks to reach the other side. Beyond this crossing, a pebbled path led to the single-sided railing bridge at 2840 feet, replacing the one from 2013. Shortly thereafter, the trail turned rocky again as it entered a clearing.
Ascending Kayak Peak in Fog
We were in clouds soon after re-entering the forest, where I put on snowshoes by the noticeable old tracks. Following them while veering south, we passed the old mine before losing the trail out in the clearing. Due to super low visibility, I opted to go farther west of a prominent southeast-trending gully to avoid any unseen cliff areas. Soon, the terrain steepened and was covered in continuous snow to aid the ascent.
At 5100 feet, we aimed straight toward the summit of Kayak Peak. Dense fog continued to shroud the landscape as we carefully skirted in front of cliffs. Eventually, we gained the gap at 5240 feet and gained the west ridge for the final ascent. Meanwhile, the hushed forest, surrounded by cool air, felt eerie while offering its solitude. The summit remained hidden in the thick inversion, creating a serene environment.
A Waiting Game on the Misty Summit
The steep ridge crest emphasized the route until the final 200 feet. Then, it was necessary to detour around the north side, which led us to the top via a snow arête. Unfortunately, the summit of Kayak Peak was still viewless when we arrived. Over an hour had passed as we waited for the forecasted sunny skies. But the stubborn clouds persisted, so we were most certainly trapped in an inversion.
Finally, a partial clearing offered a decent east view of the long ridgeline of Cascade Mountain, where we had been just a few days earlier. The west, however, remained completely socked in without any chance of breaking free of the mist. After a quick photo session, we were retracing steps through the mine. Clouds in the lower basin had finally lifted to let in the valley view. Thankfully, navigating back through the ruts on the road presented no issues.
