Web Mountain via Putrid Pete's Peak, Mount Defiance, Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake — Sep. 20, 2025

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

3 photos

25

Beware of: trail conditions

6 people found this report helpful

Two of us hiked clockwise from Dirty Harry's trailhead up to Putrid Pete's Peak (a.k.a. P3), over toward Mount Defiance (skipping the short out and back to the MD summit), down to Mason Lake, and back to the DH trailhead via the Ira Springs Connector.

There's not a lot of information about this route on the WTA's site, but AllTrails recommends that hikers follow the loop counterclockwise and estimates 10.34 miles with 5,387 feet of gain when doing so. In my opinion, anyone would be crazy to hike this counterclockwise. I've hiked up and down the Kamikaze trail at Mount Teneriffe in the snow, and that was a cake walk compared to this. P3 is STEEP, and descending that pitch on loose rock seems like a death wish to me. Based on our mapping with multiple Garmin and Apple devices, I will also note that the clockwise loop without a stop at the Mount Defiance summit is closer to 15.5 miles and 5,600 feet of gain in total.

Regardless of the direction taken, THIS ROUTE IS NO JOKE for even the most skilled of hikers. We knew we'd have to route find, so we used the AllTrails app to live track ourselves on the map, and that was a life saver. It would be very easy to miss a turnoff or follow the wrong path on this trail. We also knew we'd have to scramble a bit to get up to P3 and that it would be steep, but we underestimated just how scary the final ascent would be. I literally crawled up the last 1,000 feet and had to keep myself from looking down to avoid panicking.

Once up P3, it was a relief to see a faintly defined path just down to the right of the peak that headed across the ridge. We were concerned at first that it might take us down too far and that we'd have to go back up again, but it didn't. We followed another hiker's footprints on that path and made it across the ridge in 30 minutes.

The rest of the trail was significantly better, but there was still a fair amount of elevation to gain on the traverse back. Temps ranged from 50 - 72 degrees throughout the day, and we went through close to 5.5 liters of water between the two of us. I'm grateful to have been prepared with extra supplies and that we made it, but this trek was a one and done for me. I would not recommend this hike to others who aren't comfortable with open heights and rock scrambling.

Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake — Sep. 16, 2025

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

4 photos

Mighty Molly

Fall foliage

5 people found this report helpful

Gradual well maintained climb. Beautiful forest to openness of the valley. You can see Mt. Rainer and some of Seattle when almost getting to the top. Mason lake is beautiful.

Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake — Sep. 10, 2025

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

2 photos

rbass

15

13 people found this report helpful

Road: do-able for all vehicles

Trail: incline all the way up. Took about 70 minutes for me to hike up to Mason Lake (3.5mi)

Lake: very swimmable! Perfect temperature for swimming even in September!

Parking & Privy: Plenty of parking. Pay station available if you do not have NW Forest Pass. Privy very clean!

Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake — Sep. 9, 2025

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

1 photo

Wanderwimmin

Hiked with a dog

3 people found this report helpful

Maybe you will find a prize...I lost a diamond earring while having lunch at the lake. We were sitting in the second section when you enter straight.

Other than the lost earring, it was a beautiful day with fog and sprinkles for a few minutes. We took our time, stopped at the bridge and a few other places. Not many hikers.

There is one big bump as the road transitions from paved to dirt. Other than that, the road is in good shape.

If you should find the earring, I'm jas@tranceka.com.

Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake — Sep. 1, 2025

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

3 photos

crystalbear

WTA Member

20

Wildflowers blooming
Fall foliage
Ripe berries

5 people found this report helpful

Unpaved Forest Service road to the trailhead is mostly suitable for all vehicles, with sections of potholes and washboards. If yours is 2WD or not a high clearance car, go slow and be cautious where the pavement ends, which comes quickly (speed limit 50mph) with a big gap or hole. Depending on the lighting, it is very hard to see the end of paved part and the hole.

Arrived at trailhead at 9:30am on Labor Day with a cooler and sunny forecast. The lot was full and I was one of the first few cars that spilled over onto the forest service road.

Solar-powered fee station is available at the trailhead.

The privy at the trailhead is maintained well and TP well stocked.

Passed a dozen parties - overnight backpackers, day hikers, and trail runners on the way to the lake, and several on the way down.

Fall colors have started - vine maples, huckleberry, and flowering currant - as you hit the tree line. Some remaining Indian Paintblush added pop of bright orange-red on the ground. Nearing the lake, you see ripe huckleberries still around. At lower elevation in the woods, you see salal full of berries.

Pikas were calling each other in the taluses, and I spotted a few. There was one carrying a brunch with green leaves among the rocks on the lake shore.

On the way back down, I witnessed a falling rock, about a foot wide. I could not tell if it was a human-triggered incidence or a natural fall, but it was nerve-wracking as it bounced down a few switch-backs with noises as it hit other rocks. Thank goodness no hikers were hurt. It was the stretch above the tree line, after the trail sign that marks the split for Mason Lake and Bandera Mountain.