Rampart Ridge (Snoqualmie)

Getting there

Take Exit 54 "Hyak" off of I-90. Cross under the highway and turn right on onto the frontage road, Forest Road 4832. At ~3,330 ft turn left onto Forest Road 136, a spur road.  It's full of potholes and narrow but driveable to the hairpin switchback at 3,800 ft where the well-used way trail to Lillian Lake starts.

on the trail

Lake Laura & Lake Lillian (4,800 ft)

3 miles round trip, 1,000 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: strenuous

Follow the "fisherman's trail"  that passes Lake Laura. It's a very steep, easy-to-follow trail, a bit of a scramble in places, but is a much shorter hike to Lake Lillian that the trail to Margaret Lake and Lake Lillian.

Approach & ascent

North Peak (5,870 ft)

6 miles round trip, 2,400 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: Strenuous 3, Technical 4

Ascend the way trail to the junction with the Lake Lillian trail from Mount Margaret and turn left to Lake Lillian. Follow the way trail over a crease in the rock abutting the lake to the east (Technical 4 difficulty rating). Continue on the way trail up to the ridge northeast of the lake. As the trail drops down to the east of the ridge follow it down and around into the drainage to the southeast of the summit, or alternatively follow the ridge to the summit rock. If ascending the drainage, at a junction (~5,600 ft) where one trail descends to Rampart Lakes, take the branch uphill to the summit rock. The summit can be attained by a short scramble of the west face of the summit rock (Technical 5 difficulty rating). Alternatively, descend along the summit block to its east and turn into an unusual terrain of stacked ledge systems (Technical 3 difficulty rating). An ascent up the west face could be followed by descent through the ledges, but don’t descend too far before curling around right and off the summit block.

Southeast Peak (5,606 ft)

4 miles round trip, 1,900 feet of elevation gain, difficulty: Strenuous 2, Technical 3

This is Point 5606 on the Chikamin Peak USGS map, less than 0.5 mile southeast of Lake Lillian.  Ascend the way trail to the junction with the Lake Lillian trail from Mount Margaret and turn left to Lake Lillian. Just before reaching the lake's outlet, follow a boot path heading south, then up and behind the rock block at the southern end of the lake. Once on the ridge, follow the southeast summit’s northwest ridge to the summit block.  Make the final ascent from the southeast after circling the summit block either clockwise, passing over the brushy top of one gully, or by a slightly longer counterclockwise route over meadow slopes.

Equipment

Helmets are required.

Notes

• This scramble is particularly appealing with fall colors and ripe blueberries.

• Suitable Activities: Scrambling
• Seasons: May, June, July, August, September, October
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Strenuous 3, Technical 4
• Length: 6.0 mi
• Elevation Gain: 2,400 ft
• High Point: 5,870 ft

• Land Manager: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests
  Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Cle Elum Ranger District (OWNF)
• Parking Permit Required: None
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12