Mount Adams Wilderness

Second in height only to Mount Rainier statewide, 12,276-foot Mount Adams looms over at least 10 impressive glaciers and a Wilderness of forested slopes and subalpine meadows. The huge volcanic bulk of the mountain takes up a considerable portion of the Wilderness and rises to its only peak. As many as 25 climbing routes, from nontechnical to technically challenging, provide access to this very popular summit, with an elevation gain of approximately 7,000 feet. Approaching the mountain from the south you will find relatively gentle terrain, a nice contrast for hikers to the treacherous ice and sharp ridges on the west and the treacherous ice and vertical cliffs on the east. The glaciated north face is less imposing. The eastern half of the mountain lies within the Yakama Indian Reservation. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail crosses the Wilderness generally north to south for about 21 miles on the west side of Mount Adams, and some 45 additional miles of trails join it, allowing you to hike about three-fourths of the way around the base of the mountain.