Overview
The Irish Cabin Peaks, named for the Mountaineers owned Irish Cabin that was on Mowich Lake until 1978, are a group of smallers summits on the northern and western side of the dramatically larger Mount Rainier! There are 24 official mountains in this group, though there are many other summits in the general area that are not considered part of the group (ie. Martin, Berry, Howard Peaks). If you climb twelve of these summits you will earn a pin from the Mountaineers and then earn another pin from climbing the second twelve on the list.
Though some of these peaks look intimidating from their base. Many of these peaks are often low grade scrambles (Class 2 or 3). All of the summits on the list offer excellent views of Mount Rainier from there summits and equally impressive views of each other.
It should be noted that these summits are prone to bad weather. Because the Irish Cabin Peaks are located on the windward side of the Cascades and are on the western side of Mount Rainier they often receive very bad weather. Often these peaks are fogged over when the mountains to the east of them, the Crystal Mountain Region and the Naches Ranger District Peaks will not experience the same type of bad weather. If the forecasters are predicting bad weather in the region, assume they are right and plan your trip elsewhere among 6000 other summits in Washington State.
List of Peaks
The following is table of the Irish Cabin Peaks.
Mountain | Height |
Observation Rock | 8364 |
Echo Rock | 7870 |
Old Desolate | 7137 |
Sluiskin Mountain- The Chief | 7026 |
Sluiskin Mountain- The Squaw | 6960 |
Crecent Mountain | 6715 |
Mineral Mountain | 6500 |
Fay Peak | 6492 |
First Mother Mountain | 6480 |
Mount Pleasant | 6454 |
Hessong Rock | 6385 |
Second Mother Mountain | 6375 |
Castle Peak | 6120 |
Bearhead Mountain | 6089 |
Bearhead Mountain-East Peak | 6041 |
Tyee Peak | 6000 |
Picture Mountain | 5941 |
Tolmie Peak | 5920 |
Third Mother Mountain | 5804 |
Old Baldy Mountain | 5796 |
Redstone Peak | 5680 |
Florence Peak | 5508 |
Arthur Peak | 5465 |
Gove Peak | 5310 |
Getting There
For the Carbon River District Entrance: NOTE RIGHT NOW THIS ROAD IS CLOSED TO VEHICLE TRAFFIC!! Take Route 165 South. It will soon intersect with Route 162. Continue on Route 165 south through the towns of Wilkeson and Carbonado. You then go over an older bridge ove the Carbon River. This bridge is beginning to look unsteady and would not be a good place to be during an earthquake. Roughly a half mile over the bridge you will run into an intersection with one road veering left and staying in the valley heading to the Carbon River District and another veering right heading to Mowich Lake. Take the road heading to the Carbon River District. Good roughly 5 miles to the gate of the Carbon River District Gate. There will be parking on your right and restrooms on your left.
VIA THE MOWICH LAKE AND TOLMIE PEAK TRAILHEAD (RECOMMENDED IN SUMMER. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE MOWICH LAKE ROAD IS CLOSED USUALLY TO AT LEAST MAY AND MANY TIMES MUCH LATER!!!!): Take Route 165 South. It will soon intersect with Route 162. Continue on Route 165 south through the towns of Wilkeson and Carbonado. You then go over an older bridge ove the Carbon River. This bridge is beginning to look unsteady and would not be a good place to be during an earthquake. Roughly a half mile over the bridge you will run into an intersection with one road veering right and head up Mowich Lake Road. You want to head up 17 miles up the road. You will run into the self pay area up at the Paul Peak Trailhead about 11 miles up the road. Don't forget to stop here because there are plenty of ranger at the Lake Mowich Campground and they will ticket you if you don't pay.
Red Tape
Many of the peaks will require a Mount Rainier National Park Pass is required at the trailhead. It is $15 for the day and $30 for the year.
Some of the others may require a Northwest Forest Pass which $5 for the day and $30 for the year
External Links
Here is a link to information about the Irish Cabin Peaks.
Here is a lists of pins you can earn not only from the Irish Cabin Peaks but of other lists in the regionCamping
Backcountry Permit Required for Camping while in Mount Rainier National Park. For more information please
click here