Mountaineering · YDS Class 3

Southeast Ridge

Distance RT
14.0 mi
Gain
6,099 ft
High Point
8,730 ft
Trailhead
Robinson Creek Trailhead
2,598 ft elevation
Permit Required

A self-issue Pasayten Wilderness permit and a Northwest Forest Pass or other valid recreation pass for trailhead parking are the applicable requirements; no special quota or reservation system applies.

Route Description

A strenuous, mostly off-trail scramble to a broad summit on the southern edge of the Pasayten Wilderness, rising some 4,500 feet above Robinson Creek.

Approach

Drive to Ballard Campground on the Hart's Pass Road (Forest Road 5400) west of Mazama, and continue a short distance to the Robinson Creek Trailhead (2,600 feet). Hike the Robinson Creek Trail about 2.25 miles to the second major bridge, over Beauty Creek. About 50 feet past the bridge, leave the maintained trail for an unmaintained, unmapped boot path up Beauty Creek. Follow this path roughly 1.5 miles to a creek crossing at 5,200 feet, then ascend the steep, open slope northwest (snow-covered in early season) with the creek on your left, continuing through forest for about a mile to a tarn at 6,700 feet — a good camp if there's enough snow for water, otherwise camp lower at 6,300 feet. From camp, gain the mile-long southeast ridge and follow its crest, picking through several sections of loose rock, to the broad summit.

Descent

Descend the southeast ridge and the Beauty Creek boot path back to the Robinson Creek Trail. The off-trail sections in both directions are slow going; budget real time for them rather than treating them as a formality.

Weather Forecast
5-Day Air Quality Forecast
Today
68
Moderate
Tomorrow
40
Good
Sun, Sep 27
56
Moderate
Mon, Sep 28
74
Moderate
Tue, Sep 29
69
Moderate
PM2.5 wildfire smoke threshold: 35 μg/m³ · Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo
7-Day Forecast
Today
❄️
Snow
33° / 20°
92%
❄ 4.6"
💨20
Tomorrow
❄️
Snow
29° / 16°
35%
❄ 0.9"
💨16
Sun, Sep 27
☁️
Overcast
43° / 20°
💨8
Mon, Sep 28
☁️
Overcast
43° / 19°
11%
💨6
Tue, Sep 29
🌨️
Rain
34° / 25°
47%
💧0.14"
💨6
Wed, Sep 30
☁️
Overcast
35° / 17°
29%
💨7
Thu, Oct 1
☁️
Overcast
33° / 16°
31%
💨7
Trip Reports
+ File a Report
No reports yet for this route.
Be the first to file a report