Hiking with a bit scrambling to a accessible peak near North Bend
Chutang and I originally planned to climb Gunn Peak today. But when I woke up around 5 a.m., the forecast showed about 0.1 inches of rain every three hours across most models. We decided to switch plans and pick McClellan Butte instead, a closer, easier peak that also happens to be on the Smoot list.
We arrived at the upper trailhead just around noon. The road up is a bit rough, so I’d recommend a higher-clearance vehicle. Parking at the upper trailhead is very limited, with room for maybe four cars. Starting from the lower trailhead only adds about 600 feet of gain, so it’s not a big deal if you park there.
The trail was in surprisingly good condition all the way to the summit. At the end, there’s a short, straightforward scramble with minor exposure on mostly easy class 2 terrain. It even looks like someone has carved or improved small ledges into the rock, which makes the scramble feel more trail-like. It’s easier than Mount Si, and I think most decent hikers who aren’t afraid of heights would have no problem making it to the top.
