- 100 Classic Hikes of Washington
Ultimate Navaho Peak Trail Guide (Washington Classic)
Located in the magnificent Snoqualmie Pass region of Washington State, Navaho Peak is a breathtaking hike. Any outdoor enthusiast seeking an unforgettable hiking adventure will find that Navaho Peak offers awe-inspiring alpine vistas, seas of wildflower meadows, and an exhilarating (and exhausting) journey through the Cascade Mountains.
In this post, I will provide you with essential information, detailed insights to ensure safety, and of course, determine if Navaho Peak should be a 100 Classic Hike of Washington.
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Complete Trail Guide to Navaho Peak in the Cascade Range
Hiking to Navaho Peak in the Cascade Range is an exhilarating and exhausting experience. However, it boasts some of the best views of the state if you can make it up the steep climb.
In this post, I will share everything you need to know about the trail including how to get there, what to expect along the way, and answers to frequently asked questions. Let’s get into it!
Know Before You Go
General Information
Region: Snoqualmie Pass
Distance: 14.0 miles
Level: Difficult
Elevation Gain: 4,100 ft
Time: 8hrs or Overnight
When to go: Late June-Oct
Pass/Permit?: Northwest Forest Pass
Dogs Allowed?: Yes- On Leash
Where is the trailhead located?
Navaho Peak is located on the ancestral lands of the Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Wenatchi, and Yakama Tribes as well as the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.. We are grateful for the stewards of this land past and present. We are honored to be and recognize that we are guests on this land.
Getting to the Trail
Accessing the trailhead is relatively straightforward. From Seattle, it is roughly a 1-hour and 50-minute drive, but with a necessary stop for coffee along the way, it’s over a 2-hour drive.
The trail to Navaho Peak begins at the Stafford Creek Trailhead.
Once you exit I-90 for East Cle Elum, you will follow Highway 970 across the Teanaway River bridge before turning left onto Teanaway Road. Eventually, Teanaway Road turns into North Fork Teanaway Road before it turns into Forest Road 9737 near Twentynine Pines Campground. Follow the road right onto FR-9703 over Stafford Creek. In two-ish miles, you will reach the Tafford Creek Trailhead, where you can begin your hike!
Trailhead Facilities
The trailhead has two pit toilets and no trash cans.
There is space at the Stafford Creek Trailhead for about 20 cars.
Season to Visit
At such a high elevation, Navaho Peak will stay fairly snowy late into the summer. The lower elevation portions of the trail will be completely dry with blooming flowers and the top half mile will have a few feet of snow.
The best time to visit the trail is August and September.
However, early summer can often offer more plant life.
Passes/Permits
You will need a Northwest Forest Pass to complete this trail.
Northwest Forest Passes can be purchased at the Cle Elum Ranger District or online for $30. While you can purchase daily Northwest Forest Passes, if you plan on visiting National Forests more than twice, you’ll have paid off the annual pass.
This annual pass grants you access to all National Forests in Washington and Oregon!
Additionally, you will need to fill out the free summit register. This provides the Forest Service with an accurate number of visitors.
Hiking Navaho Peak
The beginning of the Navaho Peak Trail follows the Stafford Creek Trail. There is a cool breeze that comes off of Stafford Creek during the first portion of the hike.
The first part of the hike is mellow and winds along the creek with small increments of elevation gain. There are plenty of ponderosa pine trees to block the high sun of summer. In early summer, you can find lush meadows of glacier lilies, indian paintbrush, and scarlet gilia.
Passing one of two backcountry sites along the trail, hikers will come to an avalanche swath which is where the real elevation gain begins.
An avalanche swath is a path or track that an avalanche follows during its descent down a slope. When an avalanche occurs, it can displace large amounts of rock, debris, and snow as it comes down a mountainside. This movement creates a distinct “swath” or corridor where the avalanche has swept away everything in its path.
Continuing right along the trail past the “Stafford Creek Trail” split, you will enter the last forested area of the trail. This was a great resting stop along the route, because just past this forested area is a steep and rocky shelf leading up to Navaho Pass. After completing the lengthy collection of switchbacks to the Pass, it is easy to believe that the worst of the elevation is over. From Navaho Pass hikers can view Ingalls Creek Valley which looks into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. With views like Dragontail Peak and Little Annapurna, this is sometimes the turnaround point for many hikers because…
In the last mile from Navaho Pass to Navaho Peak, you will be gaining over 1,200ft of elevation. At the first junction, take the trail to the right to follow Old County Line Trail.
If you follow the connecting ridge to the left, you will reach Wrong Turn Peak.
While you’re walking along this section, you will have reached the saddle that overlooks the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Continue walking along the saddle until you reach the Navaho Peak Summit Bootpath and veer to the left.
This steep section of loose scree is almost a third of the total elevation of the trial. With switchbacks as short as five paces and large patches of snow to navigate across, the venture to the top is not an easy one.
Read This Next: Ten Essentials of Hiking
The effort is worth it. Throughout the summit, there are spectacular views of Mount Rainier, Mission Ridge, and Teanaway Peaks. With views like these, the final push to the top was followed one foot after another.
At the top there are 360 views and when I completed it there were only two other people up at the top. I saw a total of five people on the Navaho Peak Trail.
Use your time at the top to rest up, because navigation back down is tough! But worth it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Navaho Peak in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Where is the Navaho peak?
Navaho Peak is located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Wenatchee Mountains of the Cascade Range.
From the summit of Navaho Peak, you will see excellent views of the Enchantments and Mount Stuart.
Can you backpack to Navaho Peak?
Yes, you can backpack along the Navajo Peak Trail! While there are no backpacking sites at the peak, there are campsites just before the Navajo Saddle.
Leaving your backpacking gear at the pass also saves you the effort of lugging your heavy pack up the steepest portion of the trail.
There are water sources here, but they can dry up by late summer.
Do you need snow gear for navaho peak?
If you plan on hiking Navaho Peak between May and Mid-July, you will likely come across snow on the trail.
An ice axe and crampons are recommended for the summit of Navaho Peak when deep snow patches are present.
Should Navaho Peak be a 100 Classic of Washington?
I am hiking all “100 Classic Hikes of Washington”, a trail guide by Craig Romano. Navaho Peak was one of the first trails I completed after moving to Washington and deciding to complete this goal.
It was a truly unique experience to me as a newer hiker, and I had never seen so many incredible views on one trail.
I absolutely believe this trial should be considered a 100 Classic Hike of Washington.
If you want to complete your own 100 Hikes journey, you can check out the guidebook here.
Pack It Up
Navaho Peak is one of the most breathtaking trails you will find in the Wenatchee Range. In close proximity to trails like Colchuck Lake, Eightmile Lake, and the Enchantments, you will likely find solitude on this less popular trail.
Before heading out, be sure to check out the most recent trail conditions. I find that the best place to view user-generated trail reports is in the Washington Trails Association trip reports!
The Teanaway Area has some truly incredible hikes and I cannot wait to explore more of the area.
This trail is phenomenal, and I know you’ll think it is also worthy of the 100 Classic Hikes of Washington title.
Meet the Author -
Sarah Borgen
I am an Educator and outdoor Enthusiast based out of Seattle and writer of Exploren Borgen! My adventures consist of weekends spent in the woods, on a hike, car camping, and taking a deep breath of fresh air. When not on an adventure, you can find me in a classroom teaching high school science! I love having a job that allows me to the opportunity to discuss things like conservation, sustainability, and accessibility.
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Meet the author
Sarah Borgen, AKA your outdoor bestie
I’m an outdoorsy educator and adventure advocate, which is why I’m passionate about creating resources – like blogs, guides, and interactive maps – to simplify your travels. I’m eager to share some of Washington’s greatest destinations and hidden gems with you.
