Kachess Ridge / Kachess Beacon

The nice thing about old aircraft navigation beacon sites is that they always afford a decent view. The trail to Kachess Beacon is steep much of the way, but it is easy to get to, well-shaded, and less than three miles long.

A sign at the small, unimproved trailhead indicates that it is for two trails: 1212 and 1315. Walk a mere 250 feet to the unmarked junction of those two trails. Go left, where an official sign for trail Kachess Ridge Trail #1315 welcomes you. Start steeply up into open forest on broad tread, rising above Silver Creek on your right, and progressing generally north-northeast for nearly a mile.

Break out of the trees briefly to pass through a small talus field beneath a rock face on your right. 100 yards ahead, just around the corner, is an unofficial junction, at one mile, elevation 3400 feet. The official trail doubles back to the right and uphill. But over time a boot path has formed that continues straight. The boot path is officially closed by the Forest Service. Please respect this closure and use only the official trail, which switchbacks off to your right at this junction. Note that if there is even a small amount of snow on the trail, it may be difficult to spot the official trail, so be sure to have a map to reference.

The trail climbs up past the left side of the rock face you passed beneath, then crests a ridge top where you first hear the sound of Silver Creek roaring through a gorge. At 1.25 miles, the trail comes within sight of Silver Creek as it falls into a narrow canyon. Beyond here, the grade is flatter, following the gently flowing Silver Creek upstream to a signed junction with the Beacon Ridge Trail #1315.3 at 2.0 miles, elevation 3800 feet.

Go left and resume climbing steeply once again, but on narrower tread. You are still in open forest, shaded by older growth trees now, but with ample light filtering in. The spur trail heads northwest, then loops around to the southwest. The final half mile is a straight line of uniform grade, basically a ramp heading south-southwest up to the ridge top and beacon at 2.9 miles, elevation 4600 feet. Wander the ridgetop for views including Lake Easton, Mt. Rainier, and Kachess Lake.