Overview
Mt. Daniel seen from above the Robin Lakes on the north ridge of Granite Mountain
Mt. Daniel is the high point of both King County, the county of Seattle, and of Kittitas County. It is situated in the heart of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the Cascade crest, it's waters draining to the Cle Elum River on the east side and the Skykomish River to the west. Daniel is a massive complex with five summits known as East Peak, Middle Summit, West Summit (true summit), West Pyramid, and Northwest Peak. The Lynch Glacier flanks the mountain on the north and drains into the East Fork Foss River. The Daniel Glacier is on the NE side between Middle Summit and East Peak and drains to the Cle Elum River. Hyas Creek Glacier is east of East Peak and also drains to the Cle Elum.
The topo map is messed up as regards Mt. Daniel because the true summit is the west peak, whereas the map implies that the east peak is the summit, at 7,859 feet. The "Daniels" benchmark showing on the map is NOT the summit of Mt. Daniel - it's the summit of the East Peak of Daniel. If you look at the topo map, both the center and west peaks are above the 7,960-foot contour, and field observations have proven that the west peak is the higher of the two. The Topozone.com link shows the location of the true summit.
Getting There
Drive I-90 east from Snoqualmie Pass or west from Ellensburg and take Exit 80. Proceed north through Roslyn and Ronald and toward Salmon la Sac, 16 miles from Roslyn. Just before entering this little community, turn right on Forest Road 4330 and drive to near the end of the road. Just before the end of the road and the Hyas Lake-Deception Pass trailhead is the parking area for the Cathedral Pass trailhead, trail no. 1345.
Red Tape
All trails and some picnic areas and campsites in the Wenatchee National Forest require a regional pass costing $5/day or $30/year. Golden Age and Golden Access Passport holders may purchase the above pass at a 50% discount. The Golden Eagle Passport will not apply to the Regional Northwest Forest Pass.
You can get them at these ranger stations, or it can be purchased online from the Washington Trails Association. A free wilderness permit is available at the trailhead.
When To Climb
Optimal conditions exist from June through September, depending on weather and snow conditions.
Camping
Many forest campgrounds can be found along the Cle Elum River road. Camping is permitted on and near the mountain.
Mountain Conditions
Limited condition information is available at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/recreate/recmain.html. For current conditions call the Cle Elum Ranger District at (509) 674-4411.
Images
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Alpine Lakes Wilderness
