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Mount Adams, known by some Native American tribes as Pahto or Klickitat, is a potentially active stratovolcano in the Cascade Range. It is the second-highest mountain in the U.S. state of Washington, trailing only Mount Rainier. Adams is a member of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, and is one of the arc's largest volcanoes, located in a remote wilderness approximately 34 miles (55 km) east of Mount St. Helens. The Mount Adams Wilderness comprises the upper and western part of the volcano's cone. The eastern side of the mountain is part of the Yakama Nation.

Adams' asymmetrical and broad body rises 1.5 miles (2.4 km) above the Cascade crest. Its nearly flat summit was formed as a result of cone-building eruptions from separated vents. Air travelers flying the busy routes above the area sometimes confuse Mount Adams with nearby Mount Rainier, which has a similar flat-topped shape.

The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the western flank of the mountain. Although Adams has not erupted in over 1,000 years, it is not considered extinct.

Geographic Setting and Description

General

Mount Adams stands 37 miles (60 km) east of Mount Saint Helens and about 50 miles (80 km) south of Mount Rainier. It is 30 miles (48 km) north of the Columbia River and 55 miles (89 km) north of Mount Hood in Oregon. The nearest major cities are Yakima, 50 miles (80 km) to the northeast, and the Portland metropolitan area, 60 miles (97 km) to the southwest. Between half and two thirds of Adams is within the Mount Adams Wilderness Area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The remaining area is within the Mount Adams Recreation Area of the Yakima Nation Indian Reservation. While many of the volcanic peaks in Oregon stand astride the Cascade Crest, Adams is the only active volcano in Washington to do so, although Glacier Peak comes close. Because of this, Adams is further east than the most of the rest of Washington’s volcanoes. Adams is one of the long lived volcanoes in the Cascade Range with minor activity occurring 900,000 years ago and major cone building activity beginning 520,000 years ago. The whole mountain has been completely eroded by glaciers to an elevation of 8,200 feet (2,500 m) twice during its lifetime and the current cone was built during the most recent major eruptive period 40,000-10,000 years ago. (Simcoes paper, Harris)

Standing at 12,281 feet (3,743 m), Adams towers about 9,800 feet (3,000 m) over the surrounding countryside. It is the second highest mountain in Washington and third in the Cascade Range. And because of the way it was built, it is the largest volcano in Washington and second in the Cascades, behind only Mount Shasta. Its large size is further reflected in its 18 miles (29 km) diameter base that has a prominent north-south trending axis. (USGS page)

Adams is the headwaters for two major rivers, the Lewis River and White Salmon River. The many streams that emanate from the glaciers and from springs at its base flow into two more major river systems, the Cispus River and the Klickitat River. The streams on the north and west portions of Adams feed the Cispus River, which joins the Cowlitz River at Riffe Lake, and the Lewis River. Trending southward, the White Salmon River has its source on the lower flanks of the west side of Adams and gains additional input from more streams along the southwest side of the mountain. Streams on the east side all flow to the Klickitat River. Streams on all sides, at some point in their courses, provide essential irrigation water for farming and ranching. Two rivers, the Klickitat and White Salmon, are nearly completely free flowing with only small barriers for irrigation (White Salmon) and flow control (Klickitat) (Web pages). The other two, the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers, have been impounded further downstream for flood control and power generation purposes. (Maps)

Mount Adams is the second most isolated, in terms of access, stratovolcano in Washington; Glacier Peak is the most isolated. There are only two major highways that pass close to it. Highway 12 passes about 25 miles to the north of Adams as it crosses the Cascades. Highway 142 comes within 13 miles of Adams as it follows the White Salmon River valley up from the Columbia River to the small town of Trout Lake. From either highway, one has to take generally decent Forest Service roads to get closer to the mountain. The main access roads, FR 23, FR 82, FR 80, and FR 21, are paved for part of their length. Most all other roads are gravel or dirt with varying degrees of maintenance. (FS website) Access to the Mount Adams Recreation Area is by way of FR 82, which becomes BIA 285 at the reservation boundary. BIA 285 is known to be extremely rough and often only suitable for trucks or high clearance vehicles. Two small towns, Glenwood and Trout Lake, sit in valleys less than 15 miles from the summit, Glenwood on the southeast quarter and Trout Lake on the southwest quarter.

Its size, distance from major cities, and its tendency to be forgotten or ignored by people less familiar with the Pacific Northwest, has led some people to call Mount Adams “The Forgotten Giant of Washington.” (Harris)

On a clear day from the summit, other visible volcanoes in the Cascade Range include Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Glacier Peak to the north, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, the Three Sisters, Broken Top, and Mount Thielsen to the south in Oregon, and Mount Saint Helens to the west. (Mountaineers Vol 3 1910)

Geography

Summit area

Contrary to legend, the flatness of Adams' current summit area is not due to the loss of the volcano's peak. Instead it was formed as a result of cone-building eruptions from separated vents. A false summit rises 11,657 feet (3,550 m) on the south side of the nearly half-mile (800 m) wide summit area. The true summit is about 600 feet (180 m) higher on the gently sloping north side. A small lava and scoria cone marks the highest point. Suksdorf Ridge is a long buttress trending from the false summit down to an elevation of 8,000 feet (2,440 m). This structure was built by repeated lava flows in the late Pleistocene. The Pinnacle forms the northwest false summit and was created by erosion from the Adams and White Salmon glaciers. The summit crater is filled with snow and is open on its west rim.

Flank terrain features

Prominent ridges descend from the mountain on all sides. On the north side, the aptly named North Cleaver comes down from a point below the summit ice cap heading almost due north. The Northwest Ridge and West Ridge descend from the Pinnacle northwest and west respectively. Stagman Ridge descends west southwest from a point about halfway up the west side and turns more southwest at about 6000 ft (). South of Stagman Ridge lies Crofton Ridge. Crofton gradually becomes very broad as it descends southwesterly from the tree line. MacDonald Ridge, on the south side, starts at about tree line below the lower end of Suksdorf Ridge and descends in a southerly direction. Three prominent ridges descend from the east side of the mountain. The Ridge of Wonders is furthest south and ends at an area away from the mountain called The Island. Battlement Ridge is very rugged and descends from high on the mountain. The furthest ridge north on the east side, Victory Ridge, descends from a lower elevation on the mountain than Battlement Ridge beneath the precipitous Roosevelt Cliff. Lava Ridge, starting at about the same location as the North Cleaver, descends slightly east of north.

Several rock prominences exist on the lower flanks of Adams. The Spearhead is an abrupt rocky prominence near the bottom of Battlement Ridge. Burnt Rock, The Hump, and The Bumper are three smaller rocky prominences at or below the tree line on the west side. (Map)

Glaciers

Heavily crevassed glaciers on the southeast side of the mountain

Glaciers of Mount Adams

Glaciers cover a total of 2.5% of Adams' surface but during the last ice age about 90% of the mountain was glaciated. Mount Adams has 209 perennial snow and ice features and 12 officially named glaciers. The total ice-covered area makes up 9.3 square miles (24 km²), while the area of actual named glaciers is 7.7 sq mi (20 km²). Most of the largest remaining glaciers (including the Adams, Klickitat, Lyman, and White Salmon) originate from Adams' summit ice cap. (Guardians)

On the northwest face of the mountain, Adams Glacier cascades down a steep channel in a series of icefalls before spreading out and terminating at around the 7,000 feet (2,100 m) elevation, where it becomes the source of the Lewis River and Adams Creek, a tributary of the Cispus River. (Guardians) Its eastern lobe ends at a small glacial tarn, Equestria Lake. In the Cascades, Adams Glacier is second in size only to Carbon Glacier on Mount Rainier. (Thesis)

Deep Crevasses and Icefalls on Adams Glacier

The Pinnacle, White Salmon, and Avalanche glaciers on the west side of the mountain are less thick and voluminous, and are patchy in appearance. They all originate from glacial cirques below the actual summit. Although the White Salmon Glacier does not originate from the summit ice cap, it does begin very high on the mountain at about 11,600 feet (3,500 m) and is much thicker than the Pinnacle and Avalanche Glaciers as a result. In the early 1900s, a portion of it descended from the summit ice cap, but volume loss has separated it.(Guardians) Some of its glacial ice feeds the Avalanche Glacier below it while the rest tumbles over some large cliffs to its lower section. The White Salmon and Avalanche Glaciers feed the many streams of the Salt Creek and Cascade Creek drainages, which flow into the White Salmon River. The Pinnacle Glacier is the source of an upper fork of the Lewis River as well as Riley Creek, which is also a tributary of the Lewis River. (Thesis)

The south side of the mountain along Suksdorf Ridge is moderately glacier-free, with the only glaciers being the relatively small Gotchen Glacier and the Crescent Glacier. The south side, however, does have some perennial snowfields on its slopes. The Crescent Glacier is the source of Morrison Creek; and, although it does not feed it directly, the Gotchen Glacier is likely the source of the water in Gotchen Creek. Both creeks drain to the White Salmon River. (Thesis)

The rugged east side has four glaciers, the Mazama Glacier, Klickitat Glacier, Rusk Glacier, and the Wilson Glacier. During the last Ice Age, they carved out two immense canyons: the Hellroaring Canyon and the Avalanche Valley. This created the spectacular Ridge of Wonders between the Hellroaring Canyon and Avalanche Valley. Of the four glaciers on the east side, the Mazama Glacier is the furthest south and begins between the Suksdorf Ridge and Ridge of Wonders at about 10,500 feet (3,200 m). Near its terminus, it straddles the Ridge of Wonders and a small portion feeds into the Klickitat Glacier. The glacier gains more area from additional glacier ice that collects from drifting snow and avalanches below the Suksdorf Ridge as the ridge turns south. The Mazama Glacier terminates at about 8,000 feet (2,400 m) and is the source of Hellroaring Creek, which flows over several waterfalls before it joins Big Muddy Creek. Klickitat Glacier on the volcano's eastern flank originates in a 1 mile (1.6 km) wide cirque and is fed by two smaller glaciers from the summit ice cap. It terminates around 6,600 feet (2,000 m), where it becomes the source of Big Muddy Creek, a tributary of the Klickitat River. The Rusk Glacier does not start from the summit ice cap, but starts at 10,500 feet (3,200 m) below the Roosevelt Cliff and is fed by avalanching snow and ice from the summit cap. It is enclosed on the south by Battlement Ridge and Victory Ridge on the north and terminates at about 7,100 feet (2,200 m). It is the source of Rusk Creek, which flows over two picturesque waterfalls before joining the Big Muddy on its way to the Klickitat. The Wilson Glacier, like the Rusk Glacier, starts below the Roosevelt Cliff and is fed by avalanching snow and ice; however, the Wilson Glacier starts slightly higher at about 10,800 feet (3,300 m). It is also fed by an arm of the Lyman Glacier as it flows down from the summit ice cap. The Wilson Glacier terminates at 7,500 feet (2,300 m) where it is the source of Little Muddy Creek, another tributary of the Klickitat. (Thesis)

The north side is distinguished by two major glaciers, the Lyman and Lava Glaciers. Like the Adams Glacier, the Lyman Glaciers are characterized by deep crevasses and many icefalls as it cascades down from the summit ice cap. (Guardians) It is divided into two arms by a very rugged ridge at 10,200 feet (3,100 m) and terminates at 7,400 feet (2,300 m). The Lava Glacier originates in a large cirque below the summit at about 10,000 feet (3,000 m), sandwiched between the North Cleaver on the west and the Lava Ridge to the east. It terminates at about 7,600 feet (2,300 m) and it and the Lyman Glacier are source of the Muddy Fork of the Cispus River (Thesis).

The total glacier area on Mount Adams decreased 49%, from 12.2 square miles (31.5 km²) to 6.3 square miles (16.2 km²), between 1904 and 2006, with the greatest loss occurring before 1949. Since 1949, the total glacier area has been relatively stable with a small amount of decline more recently (Thesis).

Surrounding area

Aerial view of the south face from across the Columbia River Gorge

Mount Adams is surrounded by a variety of other volcanic features and volcanoes. It stands near the center of a north-south trending volcanic field that is about 4 miles (6.4 km) wide and 30 miles (48 km) long, from just south of the Goat Rocks to slightly south of Quigley Butte. This field includes over 120 vents; about 25 of these are considered flank volcanoes of Mount Adams. The largest flank volcano is a basaltic shield volcano on Adams east base called Goat Butte. This structure is at least 150,000 years old. Little Mount Adams is a symmetrical cinder cone on top of the Ridge of Wonders on Adams' southeast flank.

Potato Hill is a cinder cone on Adams' north side that was created in the late Pleistocene and stands 800 feet (240 m) above its lava plain. Lavas from its base flowed into the Cispus Valley where they were later modified by glaciers. At the 7,500 feet (2,300 m) level on Adams' south flank is South Butte. The lavas associated with this structure are all younger than Suksdorf Ridge but were emplaced before the end of the ice age.

Trout Lake (Trout Lake Creek) reflecting Mount Adams near the small town of Trout Lake

Several relatively young obvious lava flows exist in the area around Adams. Most of these flows are on the north side of the mountain and include the flow in the Mutton Creek area, Devils Garden, the Tahk Tahk Meadows Flow, and the much larger Muddy Fork Lava Flow to the north of Devils Garden. Only one obvious flow appears on the south slopes of Adams, the A G Aiken Lava Bed. Other smaller flows exist in various locations around the mountain. (Harris)

The many other vents and volcanoes encompassed by the Mount Adams field include Glaciate Butte and Red Butte on the north, King Mountain, Meadow Butte, Quigley Butte, and Smith Butte on the south, with others interspersed throughout. (Harris)

Located a few miles north of Adams is Goat Rocks Wilderness and the heavily eroded ruins of a stratovolcano that is much older than Adams. Unlike Adams, the Goat Rocks volcano was periodically explosive and deposited ash 2.5 million years ago that later solidified into 2,100-foot (640 m) thick tuff layers.

In the area surrounding Mount Adams, many underground caves have formed around inactive lava vents(Mountaineers Vol 3 1910 p 45). These caves are usually close to the surface and can be hundreds of feet deep and wide.A few of the more well known caves include the Cheese Cave, Ice Cave, and Deadhorse Caves. Cheese Cave has the largest bore of the caves near Adams with a diameter of 40-50 feet and a length of over 2000 feet (Mountaineers 1953, Mazamas Vol 4 No 2). Ice cave, which is made up of several sections created by several sinkholes, has an ice section that is 120 feet long and 20-30 feet in diameter and noted for its beauty (Mazamas Vol 4 No 2, West Shore, The Columbia River). From the same entrance, the tube continues another 500 feet to the west (Overland, caves of Washington). Deadhorse Cave is a massive network of lava tubes. It the most complex lava-tube cave in the United States with 14,441 feet of passage (Oregon grotto). These caves are all just outside of Trout Lake. These and the many other caves in the area were at one time part of a huge system that originated at the Indian Heaven volcanic field. The most obscure caves around Adams are the Windholes on the southeast side near Island Cabin Campground. (halleyhosting)

Geology

Takh Takh Lava Flow below Mount Adams

Adams is made of several overlapping cones that together form an 18-mile (29 km) diameter base which is elongated in its north-south axis and covers an area of 250 square miles (650 km²). The volcano has a volume of 85 cubic miles (350 km³) placing it second only to Mount Shasta in that category among the Cascade stratovolcanoes. Mount Adams was probably created by the subduction of the Juan de Fuca plate, which is located just off the coast of the Pacific Northwest.

Mount Adams was born in the relatively late Pleistocene and grew in several pulses of mostly lava-extruding eruptions. Each eruptive cycle was separated from one another by long periods of dormancy and minor activity, during which, glaciers eroded the mountain to below 9,000 feet (2,700 m). Potassium-argon dating has identified three such eruptive periods; the first occurring 520,000 to 500,000 years ago, the second 450,000 years ago, and the third 40,000 to 10,000 years ago. Most of these eruptions and therefore most of the volcano, consist of lava flows with little tephra. The loose material that makes up much of Adams' core is made of brecciated lava.

Andesite and basalt flows formed a 20-to-200-foot (6 to 60 m) thick circle around the base of the Mount Adams, and filled existing depressions and ponded in valleys. Most of the volcano is made of andesite together with handful of dacite and pyroclastic flows which erupted early in Adams' development. The present main cone was built when Adams was capped by a glacier system in the last ice age. The lava that erupted was shattered when it came in contact with the ice and the cone interior is therefore made of easily eroded andesite fragments. Since its construction, constant emissions of heat and caustic gases have transformed much of the rock into clays (mostly kaolinite), iron oxides, sulfur-rich compounds and quartz.

The present eruptive cone above 7,000 feet (2,100 m) was constructed sometime between 40,000 to 10,000 years ago. Since that time the volcano has erupted at least ten times, generally from above 6,500 feet (1,980 m). One of the more recent flows issued from South Butte and created the 4.5-mile (7.2 km) long by 0.5-mile (0.8 km) wide A.G. Aiken Lava Bed. This flow looks young but has 3,500-year-old Mount St. Helens ash on it, meaning it is at least that old. Of a similar age are the Takh Takh Meadows and Muddy Fork lava flows. The lowest vent to erupt since the main cone was constructed is Smith Butte on the south slope of Adams. The last lava known to have erupted from Adams is an approximately 1000-year-old flow that emerged from a vent at about 8,200 feet (2,500 m) on Battlement Ridge. (Harris)

West side of Mount Adams as seen from Dark Divide

The Trout Lake Mudflow is the youngest large debris flow from Adams and the only large one since the end of the last Ice Age. The flow dammed Trout Creek and covered 25 miles (40 km) of the White Salmon River valley. Impounded water later formed Trout Lake. The Great Slide of 1921 started close to the headwall of the White Salmon Glacier and was the largest avalanche on Adams in historic time. The slide fell about 1 mile (1.6 km) and its debris covered about 1 square mile (2.6 km²) of the upper Salt Creek area.(Mazamas Vol 6 1921) Steam vents were reported active at the slide source for three years, leading to speculation that the event was started with a small steam explosion. This was the only debris flow in Mount Adams' recorded history, but there are five known lahars.

Since then, thermal anomalies (hot spots) and gas emissions (including hydrogen sulfide) have occurred especially on the summit plateau and indicate that Adams is dormant, not extinct. Future eruptions from Adams will probably follow patterns set by previous events and will thus be flank lava flows of andesite or basalt. Since the interior of the main cone is little more than a pile of fragmented lava and hydrothermally-altered rock, there is a potential for very large landslides and other debris flows.

More recently, in 1997, Adams experienced two slides seven weeks apart that were the largest slides in the Cascades, ignoring the catastrophic landslide eruption of Mount St. Helens, since a slide that occurred on Little Tahoma in 1963. The first occurred at the end of August and consisted of mainly snow and ice with some rock. It fell from a similar location and in a similar path to the slide of 1921. The second slide that year occurred in late October and originated high on Battlement Ridge just below The Castle. It consisted of mainly rock and flowed three miles down the Klickitat Glacier and the Big Muddy Creek streambed. Both slides were estimated to have moved as much as 6.5 million cubic yards (5.0 million cubic metres) of material. (News articles)

The Indian Heaven volcanic field is located between St. Helens and Adams. Its principal feature are an 18-mile (29 km) long linear zone of shield volcanoes, cinder cones, and flows with volumes of up to 23 cubic miles (96 km³). The shield volcanoes, which form the backbone of the volcanic field, are located on the northern and southern sides of the field. Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams are on the western and the eastern sides.

To the east, across the Klickitat River, lies the Simcoe Mountains volcanic field. This area contains many small shield volcanoes and cinder cones of mainly alkalic intraplate basalt with fractionated intermediate alkalic products, subordinate subalkaline mafic lavas, and several rhyolites as secondary products. There are about 205 vents that were active between 4.2 mya and 0.6 mya. (Simcoes paper)

Seismic activity around Adams is very low and it is considered one of the quietest volcanoes in Oregon and Washington. It is monitored by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network via a seismic station on the lower southwest flank of the mountain. (PNSN)

Recreation

The South Climb, or South Spur climbing route on Mount Adams along Suksdorf Ridge

Like many other Cascade volcanoes, Mount Adams offers many recreational activities, including mountain climbing, hiking and backpacking, berry picking, camping, boating, fishing, rafting, photography, wildlife viewing, and scenic driving among other things.

The 47,122 acres (19,070 ha) Mount Adams Wilderness along the west slope of Mount Adams offers an abundance of opportunities for hiking, backpacking, backcountry camping, mountain climbing and equestrian sports. Trails in the wilderness pass through dry east-side and moist-west side forests, offering spectacular views of Mt. Adams and its glaciers, tumbling streams, open alpine forests, parklands, and a variety of wildflowers speckled among lava flows and rimrocks. A Cascades Volcano Pass from the United States Forest Service (USFS) is required for activities above 7,000 feet (2,100 m) from June through September.

On the north side, the Midway High Lakes area, which lies mostly outside the wilderness area, is one of the more popular areas around Mount Adams. The area is made up of four large lakes, Council Lake, Takhlakh Lake, Ollalie Lake, and Horseshoe Lake; one small lake, Green Mountain Lake; and a group of small lakes, Chain of Lakes. The area offers developed and primitive camping as well as a good number of trails for hiking and backpacking. Most trails are open to horses and many outside the wilderness are open to motorcycles. More scenery similar to what is encountered in the Mount Adams Wilderness abounds. The area also offers boating and fishing opportunities on several of the lakes.

On the south side of Adams, the Morrison Creek area provides additional opportunities for hiking, backpacking, biking, and equestrian sports with several long loop trails. A few small primitive campgrounds exist in the area including the Wicky Creek Shelter. Generally, there are trailheads at these campgrounds. (FS Website)

On the southeast side of the mountain, the Mount Adams Recreation Area, another very popular area, offers activities such as hiking, camping, picnicking, and fishing. The area features Bird Creek Meadows, a popular picnic and hiking area noted for its outstanding display of wildflowers, and exceptional views of Mount Adams and its glaciers, as well as Mount Hood to the south. Some areas of the Yakama Nation are open for recreation, while other areas are open only to members of the tribe.

Climbing

Each year, thousands(troutlakewa page) of outdoor enthusiasts try to summit Mount Adams.The false summits and broad summit plateau have disheartened many climbers as this inscription on a rock at Piker’s Peak indicates. “You are a piker if you think this is the summit. Don’t crab, the mountain was here first.” Crampons and ice axes are needed on many routes because of glaciers and the route’s steepness. Aside from crevasses on the more difficult glacier routes, the biggest hazard is the loose rocks and boulders which are easily dislodged and a severe hazard for climbers below. These falling rocks are especially dangerous for climbers on the precipitous east faces and the steep headwalls of the north and west sides. Routes in those areas should only be climbed early in the season under as ideal conditions as can be had. Other hazards faced by climbers on Adams include sudden storms and clouds, avalanches, altitude sickness, and inexperience. Climbing Mount Adams can be dangerous for a variety of reasons and people have died in pursuit of the summit while many others have had close calls.(Columbia River to Stevens Pass, Falcon Guides, news articles, Rusk)

Routes

There are about 25 main routes to the summit (depending on what classifies as a main route) with alternates of those main routes (Wilderness.net). They range in difficulty from the easy non-technical South Spur (South Climb) route to the extremely challenging and dangerous Victory Ridge, Rusk Glacier Headwall, and Wilson Glacier Headwall routes up Roosevelt Cliff. (Columbia River to Stevens Pass, Mountaineers 1946, 1948, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1975, Rusk, summitpost)

Routes up Mount Adams (Clockwise from the south) (Columbia River to Stevens Pass, summitpost, Falcon guides)

Route Name	Grade/YDS	Max Angle	Shortest Approach	Notes
South Spur (South Climb)	I	30°	South Climb	Most popular route on Adams; non-technical; first climbed in 1863 or 1864
Southwest Chute	I		Shorthorn	Steep snow or rock climb; first climbed in 1965
Avalanche Glacier Headwall	I		Shorthorn or Stagman Ridge	Steep snow or rock climb; first climbed in 1976
Avalanche-White Salmon Glacier	I		Shorthorn or Stagman Ridge	Moderate glacier and rock climb; first climbed in 1957
West Ridge	I, Class 2		Riley Creek or Stagman Ridge	Steep ridge climb; first climbed on 1963
Pinnacle Glacier Headwall	II, Class 4		Riley Creek or Divide Camp	Steep unstable rock or snow climb; first climbed in 1965
Northwest Ridge	II		Divide Camp or Riley Creek	Steep ridge climb; first climbed in 1924
North Face of Northwest Ridge	II	50°	Divide Camp	Steep rock or snow climb; first climbed in 1967
Adams Glacier to NW Ridge	II, AI2	50 +	Killen Creek or Divide Camp	Steep rock and glacier climb
Adams Glacier	II, AI2	50	Killen Creek or Divide Camp	Classic, difficult, steep glacier climb; first climbed in 1945
Stormy Monday Couloir	III, Class 4-5	50 +	Killen Creek or Divide Camp	Steep unstable rock or snow climb; first climbed in 1975
North Ridge Headwall	II, Class 4		Killen Creek or Divide Camp	Steep unstable rock or snow climb; first climbed in 1960
North Cleaver	II, Class 2-3		Killen Creek or Divide Camp	Fairly easy but steep ridge climb; non-technical; likely route of first ascent in 1854
Lava Glacier Headwall West	II, Class 4	45	Killen Creek	Steep unstable rock or snow climb; first climbed in 1965
Lava Glacier Headwall East	II, Class 4	45	Killen Creek	Steep unstable rock or snow climb; first climbed in 1960
Lava Ridge	II, Class 2-3		Killen Creek or Muddy Meadows	Fairly easy but steep ridge climb; non-technical; first climbed in 1961
Lyman Glacier North Arm	II, AI2	60	Muddy Meadows	Difficult, steep glacier climb; first climbed in 1948
Lyman Glacier South Arm	III, AI2	60	Muddy Meadows	Difficult, steep glacier climb; first climbed in 1966
Wilson Glacier	III, AI2		Muddy Meadows	Difficult, steep glacier climb; first climbed in 1961
Wilson Glacier Headwall	IV, Class 4	55	Muddy Meadows	Very steep, unstable rock and glacier climb; first climbed in 1961
Victory Ridge	IV-V, Class 4-5		Bird Creek or Muddy Meadows	Very steep, unstable rock and glacier climb; first climbed in 1962
Rusk Glacier Headwall	IV, Class 4		Bird Creek or Muddy Meadows	Very steep, unstable rock and glacier climb; first climbed in 1978
Battlement Ridge	III, Class 3-4		Bird Creek or Muddy Meadows	Steep glacier and unstable rock climb; first climbed in 1921
South Side of Battlement Ridge	III, Class 3-4		Bird Creek	Steep unstable rock climb; first climbed in 1934
Klickitat Glacier	III, Class 3-4, AI2	60	Bird Creek	Difficult, steep glacier climb; first climbed in 1938
Klickitat Headwall	III, Class 3-4, AI2	60	Bird Creek	Steep unstable rock and ice climb; first climbed in 1971
South Klickitat Glacier	III, Class 3-4, AI2	60	Bird Creek	Difficult, steep glacier climb; first climbed in 1962
Mazama Glacier	I	35	Bird Creek	Easy glacier climb for beginners
Mazama Glacier Headwall	II, AI2	60	Bird Creek	Shorter, more direct alternate to from the Mazama Glacier route

Hiking

While the summit is the main draw for many who visit Adams, many trails pass through the area around Mount Adams where visitors can find stunning vistas, local history, profuse displays of wildflowers, fantastic lava formations, picturesque waterfalls, and many other hidden secrets.

One such trail is the unofficially named “Round the Mountain Trail” that encircles Mount Adams and is approximately 35 miles (56 km) long. It is called the “Round the Mountain Trail” unofficially because it is made up of three different named trails and an area where there is no trail. Beginning in Bird Creek Meadows, it follows the Round the Mountain Trail #9 to its western terminus at Horseshoe Meadows, about 11 miles (18 km), where it meets the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 (PCT). From there, it follows the PCT to the junction with the Highline Trail #114 on the north side of the mountain, about 10.5 miles (16.9 km). From this junction, it follows the Highline Trail around the mountain to Avalanche Valley, about 8 miles (13 km). The trail crosses into the Yakama Indian Reservation about 2 miles (3.2 km) from Avalanche Valley in Devils Garden. From Avalanche Valley back to Bird Creek Meadows, it is another 4.5–6 miles (7.2–9.7 km) over rough terrain with hazardous stream crossings and no definitive trail to follow for much of the way. The 8–10 miles (13–16 km) section of the trail on the Yakama Indian Reservation may require special permits.

Hiking in the Mount Adams Wilderness

Many trails access the “Round the Mountain Trail” in Mount Adams Wilderness. On the south, the Shorthorn Trail #16 leaves from near the Morrison Creek Campground and the South Climb Trail #183 starts at Cold Springs Trailhead/Campground and heads up the South Spur, the most popular climbing route to the summit. On the west side, there are three trails going up: the Stagman Ridge Trail #12, Pacific Crest Trail #2000, and the Riley Creek Trail #64. The Stagman Ridge Trail intersects the Pacific Crest Trail about a half mile from Horseshoe Meadows and has stunning views into the Cascade Creek canyon. The Riley Creek Trail passes through an area with many small picturesque mountain lakes as it ascends to the “Round the Mountain Trail.” There are four trails providing access to the “Round the Mountain Trail” on north side: the Divide Camp Trail#112, Killen Creek Trail #113, Muddy Meadows Trail #13, and the Pacific Crest Trail again as it heads down the mountain to the north. The Divide Camp Trail has a short quarter mile spur about one mile from the “Round the Mountain Trail” that goes to a dispersed campsite near a cool mountain spring. The only trails on the uphill side of the “Round the Mountain Trail” are the South Climb Trail on the south and the High Camp Trail #10 on the north. Both provide a maintained trail for closer access to the mountain for climbers. The Killen Creek Trail together with the High Camp Trail is the main access route for climbing the north side of the mountain. These trails accessing the “Round the Mountain Trail” generally gain between 1,500 feet (460 m) and 3,000 feet (910 m) in between 3 miles (4.8 km) and 6 miles (9.7 km). Trails are mostly snow-covered from early winter until early summer. Other popular trails in the Mount Adams Wilderness include the Lookingglass Lake Trail, High Camp Trail #10, Salt Creek Trail #75, Crofton Butte Trail #73, and the Riley Connector Trail #64A.

Hiking in the Mount Adams Recreation Area

In the Mount Adams Recreation Area, many of the trails are geared toward leisurely walks through beautiful scenery and are located in the Bird Creek Meadows area. There are many loop trails at Bird Creek Meadows, including the Trail of the Flowers #106 in the main picnic area. Another loop begins at Bird Lake. It follows Trail #100 as it ascends to the Round the Mountain Trail, follows the Round the Mountain Trail to the picnic area, and from there, down Trail #105 past Bluff Lake on its way to Bird Lake. Trails travel through meadows and past cold mountain streams and waterfalls, including Crooked Creek Falls. The Bird Creek Meadows trailhead is also a terminus for the official Round the Mountain Trail. Hikers can access the Hellroaring Overlook, where they can view Hellroaring Meadows, a glacial valley about 1,000 feet (300 m) down from the viewpoint precepe. From here, hikers can gaze up 5,800 feet (1,800 m) at Mount Adams,the Klickitat Glacier, and various waterfalls tumbling off of high cliffs below the glaciers terminus. This viewpoint is accessed via a fork, trail #67, off the Trail of Flowers loop or via the Climbers Trail #20. The Climbers Trail also provides stunning vistas as it ascends along the canyon rim to the viewpoint. Little Mount Adams 6,821 ft (2,079 m)is a symmetrical cinder cone on top of the Ridge of Wonders, and rises from the northeast end of Hellroaring Meadow and the Hellroaring Creek valley. It used to offer a trail from Bench Lake at the bottom of the canyon to the east base of the peak, but this trail has recently been abandoned. To reach the top, hikers must traverse rocky terrain; and if they exist, user-made trails. There is also the Down Canyon Loop Trail #10 from Bench Lake that follows Hellroaring Creek downstream 1.5 miles (2.4 km) before looping back up along Bench Lake Creek. Halfway between the Bird Creek Meadows parking area and Bench Lake is another trailhead and viewpoint. The Heart Lake Trail #184 goes up the canyon from this trailhead to Heart Lake, a small lake in the bottom of the canyon below the Hellroaring Meadow. (YN website)

Hiking in the Midway High Lakes Area

High Lakes Trail #116, the namesake of the Midway High Lakes area, crosses the relatively flat area on the north side of the mountain following a trail the Yakama Indians used for picking huckleberries. Like many other trails around Adams, this trail has spectacular views of the mountain. Other trails, like the Takh Takh Meadows Trail #136, pass through picturesque meadows and old lava flows. One of the longest trails on the Gifford Pinchot, Boundary Trail #1, has a terminus in the Midway High Lakes area at Council Lake. Other trails in the area include the Council Bluff Trail #117, Takhlakh Lake Loop Trail #134, Keenes Trail #120, Green Mountain Trail #110, and East Canyon Trail #265. (FS site)

Hiking in the Morrison Creek Area

Several long trails pass through the Morrison Creek area on the south side of the mountain. The Snipes Mountain Trail #11 follows the eastern edge of the A G Aiken Lava Bed from the lower end for 6 miles to the Round the Mountain Trail. The Cold Springs Trail #72 follows the western edge for 4 miles. Other trails in the area include the Gotchen Trail #40, Morrison Creek Trail #39, and Pineway Trail #71 and average from 3-5 miles long. (Green trails, FS website)