16.5 miles
Distance
3,979 ft
Climb
-3,970 ft
Descent
04:11:34
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Klickitat Sisters Trail

  • USFS
    Land Manager

Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Dark Divide
    Randle, Washington
  • Ref Number
    #7
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular direction shown
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
  • Global Ranking
    #67420 in Mountain Biking
  • Local Popularity
    60 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 100 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Land Owner
  • OSM Way

The Klickitat Trail has been in use for possibly 2000 years. One of a number of trails connecting villages east and west of the Cascades, the Klickitat Trail ran between the east side settlements of Yakima and Klickitat people and the west side Taitnapam (Upper Cowlitz) settlements along the Cowlitz River. Because it crosses the Cascades at the headwaters of the Klickitat River, it became known as the Klickitat Trail.

The trail travels in mostly open territory. With the addition of several other existing trails, the entire west side route can be traced. For nearly 15 miles, the trail stays on the ridgeline, always close to a mile high in elevation This offers a wide variety of landscapes: deep forest, sub-alpine meadows, lakes and tarns, rocky peaks and cliffs, an abundance of wildflowers, and expansive views including Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and the Goat Rocks Wilderness.

This trail is open to hikers, horses and bicycles.

The 17.1 mile Klickitat Trail is a major ridgetop trail, extending from Kilborn Creek to Elk Peak. Features include ridgetop views, Castle Butte, Jackpot Lake, St. Michaels Lake, and St. John Lake.

The west end of this lightly used trail begins on Forest Road 5508.024 on the Cowlitz Valley District and the east end is on Forest Road 22. Much of the trail corresponds with an original Indian trail which extended from near the mouth of Siler Creek, over Lone Tree Mountain, around Pompey Peak and Horseshoe Point, dropped to Hugo Lake and eventually crossed the Cascades at Cispus Pass. It is called the Klickitat Trail because it extended into the upper Klickitat River drainage. Indian peeled cedar trees can be seen along the trail. Indians made folded bark baskets to collect huckleberries along the ridge system. Castle Butte and the other high peaks along this trail were carved by glaciers. St. Michaels Lake and St. John Lake are in cirque basins also carved by glaciers. Expect patches of snow as late as August.

Special Conditions: Limited trailhead space at Forest Road 22.

source: USFS
Access Info

Directions: The west end of the lightly used trail begins on Road 5508.024 in the Randle District and the east end is on Road 22 in the Packwood District.

Disclaimer

This trail is maintained by the US Forest Service. Check with the USFS/Gifford Pinchot National Forest for the latest trail status.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Klickitat Sisters Trail mountain bike trail trail
  • Altitude change
    9 ft
  • Altitude min
    4,377 ft
  • Altitude max
    5,606 ft
  • Altitude start
    4,396 ft
  • Altitude end
    4,406 ft
  • Grade max
    -94.5%
  • Grade min
    106.9%
  • Distance climb
    8 miles
  • Distance down
    8 miles
  • Distance flat
    4,032 ft
  • Avg time
    04:11:34
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Sep 17, 2024
Dry
Avg: 3.98 (1 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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      Directions to klickitat-sisters-trail trailhead (46.424780, -121.559340)
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      Klickitat... Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Sep 17, 2024 @ 8:55am
      Sep 17, 2024
      All clear from Elk Pass to Lone Tree! Thanks to Trans Cascadia for picking up the spares, and all the Orogenesis volunteers knocking out the...
      Aug 27, 2024 @ 8:07am
      Aug 27, 2024
      Aug 27, 2024 @ 7:43am
      Aug 27, 2024
      All clear from Saint John Lake to eastern trailhead near Walupt Lake, amazing views on Mission Mt.
      Jul 29, 2024 @ 4:50pm
      Jul 29, 2024
      Back for our 3rd year, Orogenesis Collective cleared the hard to access middle section of trail by St John Lake. A few logs (9) remain east of the...
      Oct 10, 2023 @ 9:52am
      Oct 10, 2023
      Orogenesis Project cleared and (mostly) brushed the last 2-ish miles of Klickitat Sisters trail from the Hugo's Hump down to Elk Pass TH (NF-22)....
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 0 rides
      •  
      6 Months
      • 2 rides
      • 34 miles avg distance
      All
      • 10 rides
      • Last: Sep 28, 2024

      Photos

      more »
      32 |
      Jul 30, 2024 @ 3:18pm
      Jul 30, 2024
      43 |
      Jul 30, 2024 @ 3:18pm
      Jul 30, 2024
      35 |
      Jul 30, 2024 @ 3:18pm
      Jul 30, 2024
      47 |
      Jul 30, 2024 @ 3:18pm
      Jul 30, 2024

      Trail Lists

      Routes with this trail

      titledistance
      Klickitat Sisters Loop40 miles

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      Videos

      more »
      youtuber Klickitat Fail
      13:03 | 263 | Aug 25, 2022 , Randle
      • By NotAnotherClimb & contributors
      • #140460 - 3,947 views

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