Abercrombie Mountain– Northeast Washington’s second highest summit is first rate when it comes to views
Quick Facts:
Location: Abercrombie-Hooknose Roadless Area, Selkirk Mountains
Land Agency: Colville National Forest
Roundtrip: 7.4 miles
Elevation gain: 2,300 feet
Contact: Colville National Forest, Three Rivers Ranger District (Colville) (509) 684-3711
Notes: Access road requires high clearance vehicle
Access: From Colville, Washington travel north on Aladdin Road (CR 9435) for 25 miles. Turn right on Deep Lake-Boundary Road (CR 9445) continuing for 7.3 miles to Leadpoint. Turn right on Silver Creek Road (CR 4720). Follow this road for 1.8 miles turning left onto FR 7078. Continue for 4.5 miles bearing right onto FR spur 300. Continue for 3.3 miles to road’s end and trailhead.
Good to Know: exceptional wildflowers; dog-friendly; historic lookout site, practice Leave No Trace Principles
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 not too long, but it’s steep in places. Water is readily available along the way for the first mile, but beyond that—after the snow melts it’s a pretty dry hike. 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 River—and from the Kootenay Valley all the way to the Columbia Plateau.
Beginning on an old logging road, follow this alder-lined way for 1.5 miles to a junction. The trail right offers a longer approach from the Silver Creek Valley. Continue left and on good trail and start climbing more earnestly. Forest yields to meadows and the views expand with each contour crossed.
At 3.5 miles bear left at the junction with the Flume Creek Trail which drops steeply down the eastside of the mountain. Continue another .2 mile climbing across a wide talus slope reaching the rocky summit. Here on Eastern Washington’s second loftiest summit, admire the ruins of an old fire lookout tower and a monster cairn that in essence adds a few more feet to Abercrombie’s elevation. Then cast your glances outward as the views are sweeping and impressive.
Directly north lies the Hooknose, which can be reached by following a primitive trail from the Flume Creek Trail. The prominent mountain to the northwest is Old Glory in BC’s Rossland, Range. The Kettle Crest dominates the western horizon. Hall Mountain lies directly to the east. And north of Hall is the rugged Crowell Ridge and Gypsy Peak, the supreme mountain in these parts.
For more information on this hike and many more near it, consult Day Hiking Eastern Washington.
Abercrombie Mountain is also one of the featured hikes in my guidebook; Best Hikes with Dogs Inland Northwest.Check out this book for info on hiking in BC’s Rossland Range too.
Abercrombie is also one of my 100 Classic Hikes in Washington!
For more information on things to do and places to stay in Northeastern Washington, check out Northwest TripFinder.
