Table Mountain

This trail can be accessed via the Tronsen Creek ORV parking lot, road parking near Ken Wilcox Horse Camp or from the Upper Naneum Meadow parking area. If coming from the Tronsen Creek ORV lot, you’ll hike a steep and rutted trail up 1,000 feet of gain for roughly 1.5 miles before connecting with the Mount Lillian Trail.

This is a great way to get a little cardio in before the mellow terrain ahead but be prepared to encounter motorbikes along the way.

If coming directly from Ken Wilcox Horse Camp or Upper Naneum Parking area, you’ll be on the Mount Lillian trail for either 0.2 mile or 0.75 mile, respectively. The junction of Mount Lilian and Table Mountain trail is well-marked with a fun sideways sign on a tree.

The trail climbs gradually until you reach the turnoff for Tronsen Head, about a half mile in (on your right as you are traveling west/southwest). 

After the Tronsen Head turn-off, the trail continues through a burn area, which leads to good views through the trees to the hillsides beyond. These views are particularly beautiful in the fall as the larches change color. The big views mean there's little canopy cover, so the trail is hot in the summer with little shade. It is a lovely shoulder season outing.

Past Tronsen Head, the way is fairly narrow but easy to follow, and significant log clearing/cutting has been done to pave your way through the fallen trees. 

At around 1.5 miles, there is an unmarked junction with the Elk Trap Springs Trail. Going left takes you onto Elk Trap Springs which eventually meets up with Naneum Creek Trail to create a loop. If you continue on the Table Mountain trail (by staying to the right) you will reach Forest Road 9712. At the road junction, you can continue on via Naneum Rim Trail, retrace your steps or consult your map for additional road and trail options.

WTA Pro Tip: You don’t need to travel far up the Tronsen Head overlook turnoff to get wide-open views of the valley.