Naches Peak

Naches Peak
Naches Peak seen from Highway 410
Highest point
Elevation	6,452 ft (1,967 m)
Prominence	692 ft (211 m)
Parent peak	Tahtlum Peak (6,567 ft)
Isolation	1.45 mi (2.33 km)
Coordinates	46°52′04″N 121°30′28″W
Geography
Naches Peak Location within Washington (state) Naches Peak Location within the United States
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Pierce / Yakima
Protected area	Mount Rainier National Park William O. Douglas Wilderness
Parent range	Cascades
Topo map	USGS Chinook Pass
Climbing
Easiest route	Scrambling class 4

Naches Peak is a 6,452-foot (1,967 m) mountain summit located on the shared border of Mount Rainier National Park and William O. Douglas Wilderness. It is also on the shared border of Pierce County and Yakima County in Washington state. Naches Peak is situated on the crest of the Cascade Range and immediately southeast of Chinook Pass. Its nearest higher neighbor is Tahtlum Peak, 1.45 mi (2.33 km) to the east. The name Naches Peak was proposed by the Yakima Chamber of Commerce and approved by Asahel Curtis in 1927. The Naches Peak Loop Trail is a popular 3.5 mile trail encircling the peak. Naches Peak Loop joins a section of the Pacific Crest Trail and crosses meadows that fill with summer wildflowers. Precipitation runoff from the west side of Naches Peak drains into Chinook Creek, which is a tributary of the Ohanapecosh River, whereas the east side drains into tributaries of the American River.

Climate

Naches Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. Most weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snow onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. During winter months, weather is usually cloudy, but due to high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean that intensify during summer months, there is often little or no cloud cover during the summer. The months of July through September offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.

See also

• Mountains portal
• Geography of Washington (state)

Gallery

• 
  Naches Peak from north
• 
  West aspect
• 
  East aspect
• 
  Lupine wildflowers along loop trail
• 
  Indian paintbrush along loop trail
• 
  Fern along loop trail
• 
  Sitka Mountain-ash

External links

• Naches Peak weather forecast
• National Park Service web site: Mount Rainier National Park
• National Forest Service web site: William O Douglas Wilderness