Stagman Ridge - The Bumper

Stagman Ridge is a long spine reaching out southwest from Mount Adams, and the hike through the pleasing forest is never overly steep. Starting at the edge of an old clearcut, the trailhead offers blazing red vine maple fall colors as you head into the forest and soon enter the Mount Adams Wilderness.

As you reach the higher portions at 2 miles, the thinning forest reveals the amazing sheer drop to the east that leads down to Cascade Creek. The wildflowers earlier would be very nice in these grassy openings. From here you lose elevation slightly, pass a nice camp area, and then begin the climb to reach the Pacific Crest Trail. A stunning in-your-face view of Mount Adams greets you shortly before reaching the PCT as you pass through a spectacular meadow.

At 4 miles you reach the PCT and head east 0.5 miles where the PCT meets Trail 9, the Round the Mountain Trail. Leaving the PCT here on Trail 9 will take you in just minutes to stunning Horseshoe Meadow. Here Mount Adams towers directly over the meadow, Avalanche Glacier in full view, and in autumn the lovely bronze-, yellow-, and gold-colored grasses and fading wildflowers complete the view.

Many options exist to extend your hiking from this area, but the meadow makes for a perfect resting point before returning back out as well.