Trail to Cultus Mountain?

[satherds]

just checking if anyone knows of a trail to the top of Cultus Mountain outside of Mount Vernon.

[klenke]

I don't know of a trail, per se, and you don't really need one. The mountain has been extensively logged so there are plenty of logging roads.

 

One approach is from the north. From the gate here ride your bike for ~7 miles up Gilligan Creek past Dixie Lake (3,400 ft). The road, which is in good shape (in summer; would be snowed in now), continues up and south and then west along the arcing crest for some distance. Then cross-country from there.

 

But a better bet would be to take this set of roads toward the summit. I can't remember the condition of these roads.

 

A couple of years back I was able to drive my car to a gate I think here (1,900 ft). There is much logging activity on this side of Cultus at this elevation. The summit is right there, leaving no more than an hour of cross-country or logging road hiking to get to the top. This would be the shortest route by far.

[satherds]

thanks

[curtveld]

A bunch of the older logging roads have been reopened in the last couple of years and now nearly all that show up on the topos can be ridden or walked. All roads are gated about as soon as you get off the pavement. Dixie Lake would be the long way around – the west fork that crosses Gilligan Cr. is much more direct. On the west side of the hill, there are some motorbike trails - go wandering into the larger timber and you’ll probably encounter one. Outstanding views of islands and Olympics up top, but quite a bit of snow up there still.