Bandera Mountain by Mount Defiance is located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness near Snoqualmie Pass. Accessible via the Ira Spring Trail, the mountain remains a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Although the name “Bandera” is Spanish for “flag,” the peak was named after the Bandera Railroad Station in the South Fork Snoqualmie Valley.1
See more trip photos here.
Bandera Mountain at a Glance
Access: Ira Spring (Mason Lake) Trailhead
Round Trip: 8.2 miles
Elevation Range: 2200′-5249′
Essential Gear: helmet
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance
Playlist: Afrobeats
A Journey Fifteen Years in the Making
Two cars were in the lot when Connor and I began at 5 AM to avoid the warm weather ahead. As we left the car, the air was still misty and cool, trapped inside a beautiful temperature inversion. It has been fifteen years since the late black lab Cooper and I visited. And while researching details for today’s trip, I realized that the yellow lab had never gone up the mountain with us; bummer!
The west peak, commonly known as “Little Bandera,” wasn’t listed on peakbagger.com until after our initial visits. But back then, I thought it was the highest point, since everyone we met turned around there. The true peak of Bandera Mountain, though, was a half-mile to the east, hidden behind dense trees. So, after looking through old photos recently, I decided to put the mystery to rest once and for all.
Navigating the Trail to the Ridge Crest
I didn’t recall much about the trail besides that it was still in great shape. The main difference was that there was now a sturdy new footbridge over Mason Creek at the old washout, which felt sketchy to cross back then. Soon after going past the wilderness sign, I could see glimpses of McClellan Butte poking out of the inversion. The lower trail felt mild until it began to rise steadily past an old abandoned road at mile 1.5.
Once reaching the talus field, the trail wound upward through the expansive granite rocks toward Little Bandera. Soon, views behind us unfolded as the path shot straight up 500 vertical feet behind the Mason Lake Trail sign. This was the steepest portion of the hike. Thankfully, after the intense and strenuous ascent, the trail eased around 4600 feet before entering a short stretch of forest.
Experience the Summit on Bandera Mountain
We broke free of the trees and soon found ourselves hugging the rocky, heathered crest between large boulders. The scenic hillside offered expansive views, largely due to the 1958 fire that left much of the upper slopes treeless. As we left the beargrass-filled meadows behind, we continued past the densely-wooded west peak. The vegetation looked much fuller now when compared to the old photos of our previous trip.
The defined trail to the main peak briefly detoured from the north before staying south of the crest. At the saddle, the south trail led us through the forest to avoid a small snowfield to the north. Before long, we arrived at the clearing for the final rock traverse to the bouldered summit. Bandera Mountain offered great views of the area, including the nearby Pratt Mountain and Mount Defiance.
Descending the Ridge Back to Trail
To the east, the tip of Overcoat Peak and Chimney Rock struggled to emerge through shifting clouds. We headed down after a long visit, and then I decided to wear the helmet over some somewhat unstable rocks. Despite being here midweek, we passed 42 other hikers on their way up after going past Little Bandera. Most people I spoke with were visiting for the first time, which speaks to the mountain’s ongoing appeal.
The tree canopy shielded us from the heat and, in turn, kept the mosquitoes at bay. But it felt much warmer in the lower forest than the forecast. All in all, we enjoyed a beautiful morning revisiting an old favorite and finally reaching the top of Bandera Mountain.
