Hike of the Week: Abercrombie Mountain

Wildflowers and views rank supreme from Northeast Washington's number two mountain.

Abercrombie Mountain

Northeast Washington’s second highest summit is still first rate




by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin

August 11, 2006

Quick Facts
Location: Selkirk Mountains
Land Agency: Colville National Forest
Roundtrip: 6.5 miles
Elevation gain: 3,200 feet
Access: From Colville, Washington travel north on Aladdin Road (County Road 9435) for 27.5 miles. Turn right on Deep Lake-Boundary Road (County Road 9445) continuing for 7.25 miles to Leadpoint. Turn right on Silver Creek Road (Forest Road 7078). Follow this road for 7 miles turning right onto FR 300 (signed “trailhead 3.5 miles”). High clearance recommended. Trail begins at the end of the road.


One foot! Just one lousy foot is all that keeps this lofty peak from being eastern Washington’s highest summit. That honor goes to nearby Gypsy Peak. Still, this summit is impressive-the views are grand, the meadows resplendent! And Abercrombie is a lot easier to get to than Gypsy.
The hike to the 7,308’ summit is short, but steep. Water is readily available along the way for the first mile, but beyond that-after the snow melts it’s a pretty dry hike. You may want to avoid this hike on a hot day. The view from this summit is extensive. From the Cascades to the Selkirks-the Monashees to the Purcells-the Pend Oreille River to the Columbia-and from the Kootenay Valley all the way to the Columbia Plateau.
Beginning on an old logging road, follow this alder-lined way for 1.4 miles emerging at a junction. On good trail the way steepens. Forest yields to meadows and the views expand with each contour crossed.
At 3.0 miles is the junction with the Flume Creek Trail which drops steeply down the eastside of the mountain. Continue forward making the last .25 mile climb to the rocky summit. On the summit you’ll find the ruins of an old fire tower and a monster cairn that in essence adds six more feet to Abercrombie’s elevation. But no matter how high this mountain is, the views stand supreme.
Some familiar peaks can be made out. The prominent mountain to the northwest is Old Glory. The Kettle Crest dominates the western horizon. Hall Mountain lies directly to the east. And Gypsy Peak, the supreme mountain in these parts is just to the north of Hall.

Abercrombie Mountain is one of the featured hikes in the guidebook; Best Hikes with Dogs Inland Northwest.