Davis Peak North by Goat Mountain towers above the Cle Elum River in Salmon La Sac. A recent addition to the Alpine Lakes “Home Court” Top 100, the peak offers a great objective for folks who enjoy a mix of trail hiking and off-trail scrambling. Moreover, it offers expansive views, including the famous Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
See more trip photos here.
Davis Peak North at a Glance
Access: Davis Peak Trailhead
Round Trip: 10 miles
Elevation Range: 2600′-6524′
Essential Gear: helmet, microspikes, crampons
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance
Playlist: Afrobeats
Return to a Familiar Trail
Six years had passed since the yellow dog and I last visited Davis Peak massif, en route to Goat Mountain. The lower, flat forest past the Cle Elum River Bridge had about a dozen downed trees. But it wasn’t too bad as the trail meanders through a lush, green forest typical of the area. Soon after, the path began its steady climb.
The trail utilized many switchbacks roughly between 3200 and 4400 feet to efficiently gain elevation through the initially steep terrain. Through breaks in the trees, beautiful glimpses of Cle Elum Lake soon appeared, offering the needed motivation. Eventually, the incline eased as the path continued toward the upper mountain and Davis Peak North. The forest here felt alive with the sounds of birds.
Navigating the Burn and Upper Ridge
Feeling lazy, I opted not to meticulously follow the trail when snow appeared through the old 2006 Polallie Fire burn area. Instead, Connor and I hugged the crest from around 5200 feet, heading toward the south shoulder, where views of the thinly forested upper basin soon emerged. The open terrain of the burn area also allowed for more direct travel.
Much like the previous visit, we continued along the familiar south ridge and passed Peak 5988. The route then led over the southwest and central peaks of the greater Davis Peak massif as we savored the sight of our destination. Along the scenic crest, the snow had largely melted out, revealing the rocky spine. But Connor seemed to enjoy the open ridge travel as well.
The Final Push to Davis Peak North
For the final approach to Davis Peak North, we traversed via Opal Lake Basin on the mountain’s east side. It involved carefully descending a steep snow ramp with crampons. We trudged through the open basin before gaining the upper east ridge. Overall, it felt fairly simple, despite the rocky finish. The anticipation built as the true summit came into view.
The narrow summit of Davis Peak North offered outstanding 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape. We could see for miles into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, including the rugged Stone Kingdom. After enjoying the grandeur of Mount Stuart and Hawkins Mountain, a short side trip to the north-adjacent bump confirmed it was indeed shorter when looking back. The overcast day felt quite comfortable after the previous warmer weeks.
Exploring Further and the Descent
At one point, I decided to revisit the old lookout site with Connor, a place the two late dogs had been, bringing things full circle. We retraced our route to the south of the central peak before heading toward the historic location. En route, the largely snow-free crest revealed a ridge trail, previously unknown to me.
For the exit, we cut directly through the basin to efficiently reach the south shoulder. Judging by the old boot tracks in the snow, a few people were around in recent days. Now that we were moving downhill, we followed the trail instead and soon re-entered the forest. The walk back to the car felt satisfying after a long day exploring Davis Peak North and its scenic surroundings.
