| Mount Claywood Mountain/Rock |
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| Mount Claywood   | 
| Page Type: Mountain/Rock Location: Washington, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 47.80370°N / 123.37166°W County: Jefferson Activities: Hiking, Mountaineering, Scrambling Elevation: 6836 ft / 2084 m | Page By: OlympicMtnBoy, Orphanage Created/Edited: Aug 8, 2007 / Jan 31, 2012 Object ID: 321232 Hits: 69 Loading... Page Score: 0% - 0 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview
Mount Claywood is the highest of the six peaks (Wellesley Peak, Mount Fromme, West Wellesley Peak, Sentinel Peak, Lost Peak) that encircle the headwaters of the North Fork of the Dosewallips River. Along with Mount Fromme, its close neighbor to the south, Claywood is situated near Hayden Pass opposite Sentinel Peak. The entire area offers splendid alpine roaming, but a visit to Mount Claywood also means a mandatory visit to exquisite Claywood Lake, which occupies a sculpted bowl between Claywood and Fromme. And, naturally, if one is to put forth the effort of hiking the 15+ (20+ with the perrenial Dosewallips Road wash-out) miles to even reach this remote area of the Olympics, it will feel proper to summit Mount Fromme as well; it's right there after all. Indeed, with a basecamp in the valley at Dose Meadows, the trio of Sentinel, Fromme and Claywood make for a satisfying day.
The vistas from the summit of Mount Claywood will not dissapoint if the weather does not as one is rewarded with supreme views deep into the Hayes, Elwha, Lost, and Dosewallips River valleys, not to mention the dozens of stately mountain peaks in every direction. Mount Olympus, the Bailey Range, the northern Burke Range, and McCartney Peak to the north, are just a few of the splended peaks to behold from this prominent summit.
This peak was named in 1885 by Lieutenant Joseph P. O'Neil for Colonel H. Clay Wood, the adjutant general who ordered O'Neil on his first Olympic expedition. Colonel Wood was awarded the Medal of Honor for services to the country during the Civil War. The USGS names Mt. Claywood as the northerly of the two summits northwest of Hayden Pass, though this is in conflict with some references. ("Olympic Mountains, Climbing Guide" 4th ed. by Olympic Mountain Rescue, pg. 102)
Getting ThereMount Claywood and the peaks that surround the headwaters of the North Fork are most often accessed via the Dosewallips River Trail. The trail is 15.5 miles just to get to Hayden Pass. Add an additional 5.5 miles on account of the perennial Dosewallips Road washout and you have a quite a considerable hike in. Another option would be through Lost Pass via Cameron Pass.  summit view to Mount Cameron 
Neighboring Peaks |
Red Tape  Wellesley Peak and Thousand Acre Meadow from Mount Claywood
Obtain a backcountry permit at the Dosewallips River trailhead. Technically speaking, this should cost you $5/person and 2$/person/night. Chances are that you will meet a friendly ranger, either at the Elkhorn campground, or further, who will make sure you have filled out a wilderness backcountry permit. Please have it filled out, or they will stop you and make you do it!
Camping  Mount Claywood above a nameless lake
Standard camp for Mount Claywood and its surrounding environs is made at Dose Meadows, 2.3 miles by trail from Hayden Pass, but other options exist. The shores of Claywood Lake are generally hard and sloped and not suitable for camping. Bear Camp, though nearly 2 miles further away than Dose Meadows, is also a good option in case other campsites are crowded. Chances of that happening are pretty rare though, unless you head up there in mid-August.
Another longer, yet no less enjoyable approach to Mount Claywood, can be made from the Elwha River valley. The Haye's River Guard Station camping area would be a great jumping off point for a full day's hike and climb of Mount Claywood. Although nearly 20 miles to the Haye's River Guard Station, it nearly guarantees a lonely and enjoyable opportunity for a true wilderness experience. Images
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