Driveway Butte via trail
I parked at the Driveway Butte trailhead at Klipchuck Campground
(about 15 miles east of Washington Pass on Highway 20) and headed up
Driveway Butte trail (#481). Soon the trail started climbing up the
ridge through open forest and meadows filled with bright, yellow
balsamroot flowers. Silver Star Mountain slowly came into view as I
gained elevation.
Around 4,800' the trail levels out and enters a burned-out section of
forest. Green, spring grass and yellow glacier lilies contrasted with
the charred trees.
The wide summit of Driveway Butte has 360 degree views. Three of the
tallest 100 Washington mountain were in sight, North Gardner Mountain,
Silver Star Mountain, and Robinson Mountain.
This was a very good spring hike. Except for a short north-facing
section, the trail was completely snow-free.
Elevation gain:
3,060 feet
USGS quads:
SilverStarMountainQuad, Robinson Mountain, RobinsonMountainQuad
Car-to-car:
5 hours 18 minutes
-
3 hours 10 minutes
driving there
from
Lower Queen Anne
to
Blue Lake trailhead
-
32 minutes
driving there
from
Blue Lake trailhead
to
Klipchuck Campground
-
2 hours 41 minutes
ascending
from
Klipchuck Campground
to
summit of Driveway Butte
-
1 hour 45 minutes
descending
from
summit of Driveway Butte
to
break
Calypso Orchid on lower section of Driveway Butte trail
Driveway Butte trail
Silver Star Mountain from Driveway Butte trail
Arrowleaf Balsamroot on Driveway Butte trail
Ballhead Waterleaf on Driveway Butte trail
Burn on upper part of Driveway Butte trail
North Gardner Mountain from Driveway Butte
Robinson Mountain from summit of Driveway Butte
Glacier Lily on Driveway Butte trail
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