Navaho Pass

4.0 (2) Wenatchee National Forest, WA Moderate 2 trip reports · 9 photos

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Round trip: 11 mi
Elevation gain: 3,000 ft
High point: 6,000 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: Jun – Oct
Pass: None
Dogs: Allowed usually

Trip report

July 23, 2006

by wayuphigh

Moderate 5 hours Verdict: Great

Rocky trail
Wildflowers
Views

★★★★★ 4.0 out of 5 from 1 vote · log in to vote

Directions: From Seattle head east on Interstate 90. Bypass Cle Elum unless you want to stop at a popular, local bakery. Take Exit 85 and go east (right) onto state Route 970 (signed Wenatchee). In about seven miles, turn left onto Teanaway River Road. Follow that road about 13 miles to a junction at 29 Pines Campground (where pavement ends) and Forest Service Road 9737. Turn right onto No. 9737, drive about 1.3 miles and turn right on Stafford Creek Road (FSR 9703). Continue about 2.5 miles to the signed trailhead and facilities, elevation 3,100.

Trail Notes: The weather was to be in the low 100's in the Kittitas Valley. This hike is 11 miles round trip and the elevation gain is 3,000 feet. Navajo Pass elevation is 6,000 feet. There is plenty of water on this hike and the lower part is an easy uphill walk. At the 5,000-foot elevation level the trail splits into the County Trail. There is a nice stream here to cool yourself and refill your water. After the 5,000 foot elevation the trail has places that are rocky but not that bad. There were a couple of muddy places on the trail but not that bad. At the 5,700 foot level is a nice meadow. After the meadow it becomes a good climb and hot as you are exposed to the sun, as there are no trees. There are plenty of wildflowers to enjoy and not a lot of people hiking this trail. Once at the top the Stuart Range is almost at your grasp. This is a great hike and a great access to the Stuarts.

Photos 1

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Trip report

June 20, 2006

by silly_traveler

Moderate 5 hours Verdict: Good

Rocky trail
Views

★★★★★ 4.0 out of 5 from 1 vote · log in to vote

Directions: From I-90 take exit 85 to County Road 970. Continue on 970 for about 7 miles and turn left (west) on the Teanaway River Road. Follow this road for 14 miles to a major junction at 29 Pines Campground. Go right for 1.3 miles, then take a right when you see it! Parking lot in 2.5 miles on your right and trailhead on your left with a sign marked Stafford Creek Trail.

Trail Notes:Our journey up to Navaho Pass started from the Stafford Creek trailhead. The weather was just perfect today, sunny with a breeze. The trail is in good condition, mostly dry with a few muddy spots and some snow patches, but nothing to worry about. The trail climbs moderately for the most part and after a junction it opens up to this meadow. The trail disappears here, but continue across the meadow and the trail picks up again. After the meadow, it climbs up this bare mountain for about 300 ft, and there it is, Navaho Pass! We tried out our JetBoil for the first time and made some good old freeze dried spaghetti (my first hot meal on the trail). We had a great time, highly recommended.

Photos 8

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Reviews 1

Up to Navaho Peak

★★★★☆

Tulika · Jul 15, 2009 · Moderate

On very hot sunny Saturday, July 11th, we decided to head towards Navaho Pass. We started from Redmond at around 8:30. It took us about 2 hours to get to the trailhead. Only the last 3.5 mile of the road is unpaved, and it had usual potholes, but nothing that a small car cannot handle. We started at about 11:40. The trail starts in forest, follows Stafford Creek and has quite a bit of ups and down in the beginning. There used to be a flatter older trail, but most of it has been washed out. The trail is actually called Safford Creek trail, name Navaho does not appear anywhere. At about 4 mile, there is a nice shaded area to take a break. Another 1/2 mile, there is a fork in the trail, right one going straight up to Navaho Pass / Peak. Its gets quite steep with switchebacks from this point. Though the Pass is only about a mile from here, it feels much longer. One this perfect sunny day, views from the Pass were amazing. It felt like out of the world view! Though we realized that you cannot see My Stuart from here.

We decided to go further up for even better views. A nice couple told is that if you go left, you can get closer to Enchantments range and get a great view of Mt Stuart and even Ingalls Lake and Peak. Towards the right a very very steep trail goes up Navaho Peak. We had heard that you can see Mt Rainier from there, so we started towards the Peak. The trail is well marked, but quite steep and somewhat slippery. Definitely dangerous if icy. Its a 1.5 mile 1200 ft hike to the Navaho Peak. We were soon rewarded with a view of Mt Stuart and Mt Rainier. As we kept getting higher, more and more of Enchantments range became visible. The summit is a true summit with unobstructed 360 degree view. It was just mesmerizing. After grabbing quick lunch and spending about 30 min at the Peak we headed back. It took us about 1 hr to go up to Peak from Navaho Pass. Descend was slow, so it took us 1 hr to get down to the Pass.

Trail Data to Navaho Peak:

14 miles round trip, 4100 ft elevation gain. Final 1.5 mile from Navaho Pass to Navaho Peak is very steep, rest 5.5 mile to the Pass is gentle to steady uphill. This year by July 11th, trail was dry and snow free. There were few streams to refresh and refill water.