Our Hiking Time: 3h 45m
Total Ascent: 2200ft
Highest Point: 4600ft
Total Distance: 4.7 miles
Location: N 47° 16.9380, W 121° 10.6500
Required Permit: None.
Difficulty: Hard
Sometimes it seems that the more hiking we do, the more trails we discover. For all the trail miles we’ve put into the I-90 corridor, there are always more trails on our list to hike. Recently we had the chance explore Kachess Ridge, a somewhat lesser-known trail that scales one of the many ridges surrounding Lake Kachess.
Kachess Ridge has a great deal to offer – it is easily accessible from the freeway, but surprisingly few hikers are to be found along the trail. And, because it is east of the Pass, it is an ideal early season hike. A word of caution however; the spring route up the ridge is steep and challenging, so we don’t recommend it for the inexperienced. Either approach makes for a hard hike, but we think the views are worth the extra effort.
There's a lot more to Kachess Ridge Beacon, and you can learn all about it in our book, Hiking Through History Washington. You'll find a trail map, route descriptions, history, and more for this and many more hikes throughout the State. Help support hikingwithmybrother.com and the work we do by picking up a copy!
To get there, take I-90 to Exit 70. Take a left over the freeway and turn left onto West Sparks Road. Continue for a half-mile to FR 4818 (signed Kachess Dam Road) and take a right. Follow FR 4818 for a mile to an unmarked road on the right. Follow this road for a half-mile to the small parking area at the trailhead. -Nathan