Beckler Peak is a great combination of a relatively easy ascent with fantastic views.
I say relatively easy because compared to other trails to summits nearby, it’s a much gentler slope. That doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park.
The stats:
7.5 miles round-trip
2300 ft elevation gain
Getting to the Beckler Peak Trailhead
This hike is located along Highway 2, on the way to Leavenworth, Washington. There are quite a few beautiful trails in this area.
Highway 2 is a beautiful, scenic route through the Cascade Mountains. This is the road that leads from the Seattle area to Leavenworth – a Bavarian themed town popular with vacationers.
Washington Trail Association has fantastic descriptions and directions to so many trails in Washington state. I never would have found this hike without getting directions from them!
The turnoff to the forest road that leads to this trailhead is very easy to miss. I used Google maps, which gave directions right up to the trailhead. That gave me a heads up for when to turn.
FR 6066 is the name of the gravel road that you need to take. After almost 2 miles, take the right fork for another 6 miles to the trailhead.
The gravel road has some potholes but is in decent shape, and the drive is doable in a two-wheel drive car.
The trailhead has a pit toilet, which is pretty convenient. This parking lot was not very crowded, even at 9:30 AM on a Sunday afternoon.
Starting the hike up to Beckler Peak
The trail overall is maintained very well. It’s very obvious where to follow the trail for the entire length, so getting lost shouldn’t be a concern.
The trail starts at a relatively level grade through a forest with tall grass. You will cross a couple of small streams, with one that has eroded the trail a bit.
Then you continue through an old growth forest, and the trail starts to switchback up the mountain. One of my favorite parts of Washington is the abundance of beautiful forests with huge evergreen trees.
The bugs were pretty annoying for me on the way up, but they were better on the way down for some reason. I only got a couple of mosquito bites, so it was mostly flies.
I passed a few people on the way up. This trail is popular enough that you will see plenty of people, but not overwhelmingly so.
There are a few peekaboo views of the surrounding mountains on the upward climb. One thing I didn’t like as much about this trail was the lack of views until the very top.
The views at the top reward you for a tough climb!
There were quite a few people at the peak. The top has a rocky outcrop that everyone was lounging on to enjoy the view.
It’s a cool place to hang out, but there’s not much room at the top. And no, that’s not a bad cliche!
The summit area does have a few other spots with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
One of the best parts of a gentler climb is that the way down isn’t as punishing on your knees. I jogged down part of the way just to get back quicker.
Overal thoughts
The pros of this hike include the easy accessibility, the doable climb, and the fantastic views at the top. The drawback is the lack of views until the very top, and the limited space at the peak.
To be honest, I preferred some of the tougher hikes in this area that afford much more dramatic and sweeping views.
Mt. Dickerman, Granite Peak, and Mt Pilchuck were much more spectacular. But those first two trails were also much more difficult climbs, with at least 1500 ft extra gain.
This trail is accessible and easy for dogs as wells, and I saw one group with a dog at the summit.
The other drawback to hiking along Highway 2 is the insane traffic on the way back west on Sunday afternoons. Leavenworth is a popular weekend getaway, so I suspect that is the reason.
I also saw many people out swimming and enjoying the Skykomish river. I would love to go on a rafting trip here someday!
Overall, I recommend this hike if you want amazing views with a decent, but not leg-crushing, climb.
