Stagman Ridge Trail #12

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

This trail was impacted by the 2012 Cascade Creek Fire. The forests at the upper end of the Stagman Ridge Trail #12, Horseshoe Meadow, and Lookingglass Lake were consumed by the burn. The lower end of the #12 has patches of burn.

The Stagman Ridge Trail #12 is an alternative approach to the Pacific Crest Trail and also provides the most direct access to Lookingglass Lake and Horseshoe Meadow on the southwest slope of Mount Adams.

The trailhead can be found on Forest Road 120 in a gravel parking area with space for 10 vehicles. There are no amenities here.
From the trailhead, the #12 goes up an old roadbed and into a thick forest punctuated with clearings. The old road ends, becomes a trail that re-enters the forest, and, about 0.6 miles from the trailhead, enters the Mount Adams Wilderness.

The trail now climbs steadily but easily up along a ridge. It heads through a meadow blooming with wildflowers in summer, until just south of Grassy Hill—you might be able to see the top of Mount Adams from here. At Grassy Hill, the trail turns northwest, drops over to the north side of the ridge, and heads down into a drainage. After crossing the boggy creek bed (expect mosquitos in summer), it turns and continues steadily up the drainage heading northeast. The grassy woods and meadows along through here are alive with wildflowers, butterflies, and bees in the summer months.

At 3.5 miles from the trailhead, the trail turns sharply northwest (left) at the very edge of Cascade Creek. After another 0.6 miles of steady but easy climbing, the #12 ends at its junction with the Pacific Crest Trail to the west of Horseshoe Meadow.