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A steep climb from the Little Wenatchee Ford Trailhead up to Cady Ridge with some breathtaking views.


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Map Key

6.0

Miles

9.6

KM

73%

Runnable

5,551' 1,692 m

High

3,108' 947 m

Low

3,123' 952 m

Up

891' 272 m

Down

13%

Avg Grade (7°)

89%

Max Grade (42°)

Dogs Off-leash

Features Commonly Backpacked · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Need to Know

Depending on the time of year, there is no water along this trail. Melting snow patches supplying small streams provide whatever water there is. For example, by mid July in a good snow year, there are still a couple little streams after the 4.5 mile mark. Perhaps heavy rains also bring water to otherwise dry streambeds.

Description

Cady Ridge Trail is found in the fir forest at a well marked trail junction on Cady Creek Trail, a little over a half mile from the Little Wenatchee Ford Trailhead. Go right/north here to run Cady Ridge Trail.

Immediately, in the fir forest, Cady Ridge Trail starts climbing up the end of Cady Ridge close to where Cady Creek empties into the Little Wenatchee River. For the first 1.4 miles this climb is on civilized switchbacks slightly to the Cady Creek side (south side) of the ridgeline. Still in the forest at the 1.4 mile mark, the trail is done switchbacking as it steeply heads straight up the ridgeline for the next 600 feet of the climb.

Then at about the 1.9 mile mark the grade eases as the trail finishes the remaining 0.8 miles of the climb by traversing the Cady Creek side of the ridge as it angles its way to the ridge top that it reaches at the 2.7 mile mark. This climb is entirely in the fir forest with occasional glimpses of nearby peaks, until the very end when the trail pops out into meadows and a surprise view of snowy Glacier Peak, 10.541 ft., to the north.

From the 2.7 mile mark, Cady Ridge Trail, with small ups and downs, ambles along the ridge top through grassy meadows with wildflowers and occasional snow patches (in July), and short forested stretches. Seen to the northeast is Poets Ridge with the Little Wenatchee River in the valley below, separating these two ridges. And to the southwest the nearby Cady Creek Valley separates Cady Ridge from another unnamed ridge.

At about the 4.5 mile mark Cady Ridge Trail moves to the southwest slightly below the ridgetop. Continuing on in the meadows the trail passes a couple small streams and begins a very gradual descent. The trail soon finds itself on a small bluff overlooking a valley ahead with the PCT in it. Cady Ridge Trail descends into this valley to end at a trail junction with the PCT.

Flora & Fauna

Fir forest with dense underbrush at lower elevations. Meadows with areas of trees (firs) and wildflowers at higher elevations. Deer.

Contacts

Shared By:

Joan Pendleton

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 2 votes

#1220

Overall
  5.0 from 2 votes
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Trail Rankings

#75

in Washington

#1,220

Overall
2 Views Last Month
756 Since Jul 30, 2021
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Photos

Crystal clear view of the night sky from the campsite upon Cady Ridge.
Oct 10, 2016 near Skykomish, WA
View of Glacier Peak wrapped in clouds from Cady Ridge.
Oct 10, 2016 near Skykomish, WA
The meadows at the top of Cady Ridge, other nearby ridges, and Glacier Peak, 10.541 ft. (center left), in the distance to the north.
Jul 22, 2021 near Skykomish, WA
Snowy Glacier Peak, 10,541 ft. (upper center left) is in the distance to the north. Closer by is Poets Ridge across the Little Wenatchee River valley. Seen from Cady Ridge Trail, as the trail passes a meadow in a hanging valley on the right.
Jul 22, 2021 near Skykomish, WA
The trees thin as Cady Ridge Trail climbs the ridge.
Jul 22, 2021 near Skykomish, WA
Views of nearby mountains and ridges to the south emerge as Cady Ridge Trail breaks out of the trees as it nears the ridge top.
Jul 22, 2021 near Skykomish, WA

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