Davis Peak Trail

Davis Peak Trail (#1324) is a long out-and-back hike in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Roslyn. Expect sustained climbing and a route that’s commonly described as steep and demanding rather than a casual upper-basin stroll.

From the Davis Peak Trailhead, the hike begins with a short crossing over the Cle Elum River, then quickly turns into a tight-switchback ascent. The climb is steady from the start and continues to build toward higher ridgeline terrain.

In summer and fall, the route typically holds good trail conditions; in spring, lower portions melt out earlier than many nearby trails, though snow can linger at higher elevations. After wildfire in the area (2006 Polallie Fire), you can encounter a mix of old-growth timber early on and a recovering burn zone higher up.

Around the transition to ridgeline terrain, you reach a first ridgeline with a “false summit,” then the trail drops through a wooded bowl before beginning the final push. The upper route trends toward open, rocky summit terrain rather than staying in dense forest the whole way.

The summit area is the payoff: a broad 360-degree viewpoint is reported from Davis Peak, with visibility called out toward Mt. Stuart, Mount Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Lake Cle Elum. A common way to manage the day is to pace the switchback climb early and save time for the ridge-to-summit effort late in the hike.

Turnaround is typically the same as your ascent route (out-and-back). For planning, the commonly reported round-trip distance is about 12 miles with roughly 4,440 ft of elevation gain, and many hikers report 6–8 hours to complete the hike.

More information: Conditions, Map, Visitor information