Edds Mountain

This gem of a hike takes you to lovely views of the Kettle River Valley from the top of an old lookout site. Edds Mountain is on the edge of the 1988 White Mountain fire, so this trail winds through both an open forest of large and lovely old-growth larches with their bright green crowns to silvery snags. Grasses wave in the breeze and colorful wildflowers dot the open hillsides.

From the trailhead, you'll start your hike on a decommissioned forest road. Just before a mile and a half, the trail gets down to business climbing steeply up Edds Mountain.

As you near the summit, the grade becomes a little more forgiving, just in time for you to take in the wide views around you. Before reaching the summit, you'll swing around the south side of Edds Mountain and then continue rambling east on the ridge towards Bald Mountain. Skirt south of Bald Mountain until you run into the south section of the Kettle Crest Trail (http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/kettle-crest-south) at 5.6 miles.

If the trail disappears on you, keep your eyes peeled for rock cairns that have been built on more open sections of the trail to mark the way.

Looking to overnight or extend your trip? The Kettle Crest Trail is the key. Grab a map and plot out your options. In the early season, springs should provide water along the way, but when things heat up, you may have to search below the ridge for most of the water.

While a few WTA crews have pulled the handle of a saw on this trail in the past, the trail receives most lot of much-needed maintenance from the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington. Make sure to say howdy and yield if you run into a crew of these fine folks or other riders.