Grotto Mountain, a rugged peak east of the more famous Baring Mountain, rises high above the South Fork Skykomish River in the Wild Sky Wilderness. Its name originates from the deep gorges and ravines, which inspired early visitors who saw a resemblance to a cave. More recently, its southern aspect has been dramatically altered by the 2022 Bolt Creek Fire, changing the very nature of the landscape.
See more trip photos here.
Grotto Mountain at a Glance
Access: NF-6514-410 (to road’s end)
Round Trip: 4.8 miles
Elevation Range: 3480′-5618′
Essential Gear: helmet
Route Info: Justus S., Matt Burton
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: with guidance
Playlist: Beats, Dark, Melancholy
A Surprising Start on the Road
It’s been a full zodiac cycle since I first drove on this forest service road. Over the years, I would occasionally hear about the area being closed to the public. I also read accounts about how the roadways in this part of the wilderness had deteriorated. So, I thought Connor and I could attempt the mountain from the south for the shorter approach.
Unexpectedly, the massive 2022 Bolt Creek fire came, largely disfiguring the mountain’s southern aspect. This put our plan temporarily on hold for the foreseeable future. Just as I decided to research the east approach again, I was surprised to find the road was now open. I was mentally prepared to walk the entire 6.5-mile stretch to the end.
Navigating the Forest Service Road
After turning off Beckler River Road, we drove through some potholes in the first mile to the entrance. I was soon surprised to find an open gate without any warnings posted. Although feeling skeptical, we continued past the gate and just hoped no one would lock it while we were inside. Being trapped behind a gate on a climb has always been my worst nightmare.
The typical service road had its share of potholes but was clear of debris. It was apparent that the Forest Service had significantly improved the path after the fire. The one dip over a stream at mile 2 was manageable even in small cars. We drove five miles to the fork and continued on 410 past the Eagle Lake Trailhead. The roadway became rockier right before the end as it dipped toward an abrupt finish.
A Brushy Beginning Toward Grotto Mountain
This was a true scramble from start to finish without a trail to follow. We began under a gray, overcast sky and immediately dove into huckleberry bushes toward the talus. It quickly became clear we could not continue through the rocks without being off course. So, we returned to the trees and soon stumbled upon a brushy streambed, a much better option than the bushes.
The mossy streambed was quite slick, but a much better choice than contending with even more huckleberry bushes. The vegetation was not terrible, but it was certainly annoying enough to want to bypass. We later made the mistake of attaining the saddle east of the Grotto Lake Basin, covered in—you guessed it—more huckleberries.
Finding Our Way Through the Fog
Instead of reaching for the brushy saddle, we could have ascended a talus field and avoided the extra brush. However, it was hard to pinpoint the best way to approach from below. After reaching the rock basin south of the lake at 4300 feet, we descended from the edge of the trees in low visibility. In the thick clouds, it seemed as though we were bypassing some cliffs.
The forecast had called for clearing in the late morning, but we were still in heavy fog. I was constantly checking the GPS and comparing it with whatever terrain we could see to navigate. Soon, at about 4000 feet, we made a rising traverse across the talus and headed into a gully. We worked our way up a heathered slope below cliffs to avoid dense slide alder.
Waiting for Views on Klinger Ridge
Moving toward the ridgeline west of Grotto Lake, we soon found ourselves among thimbleberry flowers and other plants. I took pictures of them so I could learn their names later. Shortly, I made the mistake of following the only cairn we saw on this trip, which briefly peeled us away from Klinger Ridge. It would have been more direct to continue in the gully to 4800 feet.
We corrected our course from the mild, meadow ridgeline above 4600 feet, aiming toward the peaks. In the meantime, pikas throughout the rocky area began to greet us with their quiet squeaks. Who knew it would still be foggy past 10 AM? It was so unmotivating that we took many breaks to wait out the clouds. I wanted decent views and didn’t wish to be at the top in a whiteout.
The Final Push to Grotto Mountain
At 4800 feet directly below the east summit, we got the first glimpse of Townsend Mountain. From there, we weaved through some steep granite rocks while aiming toward the main peak. Soon, the misty Grotto Mountain appeared as we slowly moved to the top of Klinger Lake Basin. There were small streams from snowmelt with no shortage of water on this trip.
The final talus field traverse brought us to the steep incline below the summit. By weaving through the remnants of the 2022 Bolt Creek Fire, we arrived at a notch west of a prominent rock tower. Downclimbing a steep, vertical step from there put us on the south side shortly after. Then we moved west briefly toward the steep gully below the summit to finish the climb.
Views from Two Summits
The fire had devastated the entire south side of Klinger Ridge. In stark contrast, it spared most of the mountain’s north side down to Barclay Creek. We stayed over an hour, watching clouds shift to reveal the dramatic Baring Mountain, but no signs of Gunn Peak, etc. Meanwhile, the southern peaks, including Palmer Mountain, above the winding Skykomish River, were quite beautiful.
Since the east ridge was unsuitable for traversing, we retraced through the lake basin. Then, from the north ridge at 5400 feet, we made a steep scramble up the bouldered east summit for similar views. After a brief stay, we exited the north via rock ramps to reach our track. We mostly followed our route down, correcting a couple of spots to avoid the pesky bushes.
Open Scenery on the Road Out
Back in the other lake basin, we finally got a fantastic view of the secluded Grotto Lake. Then, of course, we couldn’t escape the final patch of huckleberries right before reaching the car. The drive back through the open terrain was surprisingly scenic. The now wide-open Eagle Creek Valley and clear skies offered views across Beckler River toward Beckler Peak.
Since it’s been twelve years since my first visit, I honestly don’t remember how dense the forest was back then. But as the road veered south, familiar high points above the Foss River began to appear. I got a direct view of Mount Hinman, Silver Eagle Peak, Bald Eagle Peak, and Shroud Mountain, among others.
An Unexpected Twist at the Gate
As the road continued to dip, my mind was completely fixated on the gate. Just as we came around the last switchback on the roadway toward the forest, my heart sank when I noticed the entrance was indeed closed. Sure enough, the lock on it was secured, which meant we were officially stuck. Without hesitation, I called the ranger station despite it being after hours.
The automated recording advised calling 911, which was my only option. As I sat on the call with the operator, I curiously fumbled with the locking mechanism. Surprisingly, the lock did not go through the main latch as I thought it had. Feeling a great sense of relief, I thanked the dispatcher and quickly let ourselves out before closing the gate behind us.
