Basalt Peak - July 12, 2010
We headed out to the Lake Wenatchee/Plain area to tackle the Basalt Peak ride. We were excited because supposedly this is the only trail in the Lake Wenatchee area that does not allow motorcycles. Rumors of a trail that has a distinctly different feel to it than others in the area were in the forefront of our minds. We parked at Finner Ridge Campground about 13 miles up Chiwawa River Rd. and continued on our bikes up the road about 2 miles to the Rock Creek campground and our trailhead. Our goal was to ascend the Rock Creek trail to the Rock Creek Tie trail and then down the Basalt Peak trail back to our car. The total elevation on the climb is over 3,500 feet in less than 5 miles, which translates to a nice descent of the same magnitude. It took us a little over 2 hours to climb to the saddle so add another half an hour for the last bit to the peak.
All smiles before the climb at Rock Creek Campground
The first 100 yards of trail was moderately steep but then it settled down for the 2+ mile climb to Rock Creek Tie. Along the way there were three creek crossings and one landslide that had been repaired (see photo below). The riding on this section was nice and pleasant with a few steep sections here and there. Overall it was generally an intermediate climb on a nice trail, albeit a bit brushy at times. It is forested and there are not too many rocks and roots.
The only washout along the route, more of a small landslide.
A little ways after the third creek crossing we turned right on Rock Creek Tie and things started to get steeper. There were about 8 or 9 switchbacks from here to the saddle at 5,200 feet and this trail climbed almost 2,000 feet in about 2 miles. At the saddle we turned right onto Basalt Peak Trail and in about 100 yards there was another junction. At this point we should have continued straight, up and over Basalt Peak (5,700 ft), which would have added about 500 feet more of climbing and taken us to our descent trail on the other side of the peak. The riding up to the peak is supposed to be the hardest on the route but when you're that close to the summit and you can almost taste your epic downhill it usually doesn't matter how steep the last little bit is. On the descent down the other side there is a spur to the right that takes you to a viewpoint and one to the left that takes you to Rd. 6210. Avoid these unless you want to catch the sights or add on Minnow Creek/Chickamin Ridge to your adventure. Stay on the main trail and continue down the 4+ miles to Finner Creek.
One of three creek crossings
We missed our opportunity at the sweet downhill because the directions we had from another website directed us to turn left before the last stretch up to Basalt Peak. We mistakenly headed down a steep trail for 1.5 miles that spit us out onto Chickamin Ridge Rd. 6210. We didn't get to ride our hard-earned Basalt Peak downhill, which is rumored to be one of the best around. To atone for our loss we climbed up Rd. 6210 and took Chickamin Tie to Chickamin Ridge and descended back down to the Chiwawa River Road where we turned right and rode 4 miles back to Finner Creek. Chickamin Tie splits in two after 2.2 miles and you can take Minnow Creek or Chickamin Ridge but we had ridden Minnow Creek before so the chance to explore a new trail was exciting even if it wasn't what we had intended to ride.
Taking a break on Rock Creek Tie
The freshly (and correctly) updated turn-by-turn directions and a map on evergreenmtb.org can be found here.
We headed out to the Lake Wenatchee/Plain area to tackle the Basalt Peak ride. We were excited because supposedly this is the only trail in the Lake Wenatchee area that does not allow motorcycles. Rumors of a trail that has a distinctly different feel to it than others in the area were in the forefront of our minds. We parked at Finner Ridge Campground about 13 miles up Chiwawa River Rd. and continued on our bikes up the road about 2 miles to the Rock Creek campground and our trailhead. Our goal was to ascend the Rock Creek trail to the Rock Creek Tie trail and then down the Basalt Peak trail back to our car. The total elevation on the climb is over 3,500 feet in less than 5 miles, which translates to a nice descent of the same magnitude. It took us a little over 2 hours to climb to the saddle so add another half an hour for the last bit to the peak.
All smiles before the climb at Rock Creek Campground

The first 100 yards of trail was moderately steep but then it settled down for the 2+ mile climb to Rock Creek Tie. Along the way there were three creek crossings and one landslide that had been repaired (see photo below). The riding on this section was nice and pleasant with a few steep sections here and there. Overall it was generally an intermediate climb on a nice trail, albeit a bit brushy at times. It is forested and there are not too many rocks and roots.
The only washout along the route, more of a small landslide.

A little ways after the third creek crossing we turned right on Rock Creek Tie and things started to get steeper. There were about 8 or 9 switchbacks from here to the saddle at 5,200 feet and this trail climbed almost 2,000 feet in about 2 miles. At the saddle we turned right onto Basalt Peak Trail and in about 100 yards there was another junction. At this point we should have continued straight, up and over Basalt Peak (5,700 ft), which would have added about 500 feet more of climbing and taken us to our descent trail on the other side of the peak. The riding up to the peak is supposed to be the hardest on the route but when you're that close to the summit and you can almost taste your epic downhill it usually doesn't matter how steep the last little bit is. On the descent down the other side there is a spur to the right that takes you to a viewpoint and one to the left that takes you to Rd. 6210. Avoid these unless you want to catch the sights or add on Minnow Creek/Chickamin Ridge to your adventure. Stay on the main trail and continue down the 4+ miles to Finner Creek.
One of three creek crossings

We missed our opportunity at the sweet downhill because the directions we had from another website directed us to turn left before the last stretch up to Basalt Peak. We mistakenly headed down a steep trail for 1.5 miles that spit us out onto Chickamin Ridge Rd. 6210. We didn't get to ride our hard-earned Basalt Peak downhill, which is rumored to be one of the best around. To atone for our loss we climbed up Rd. 6210 and took Chickamin Tie to Chickamin Ridge and descended back down to the Chiwawa River Road where we turned right and rode 4 miles back to Finner Creek. Chickamin Tie splits in two after 2.2 miles and you can take Minnow Creek or Chickamin Ridge but we had ridden Minnow Creek before so the chance to explore a new trail was exciting even if it wasn't what we had intended to ride.
Taking a break on Rock Creek Tie

The freshly (and correctly) updated turn-by-turn directions and a map on evergreenmtb.org can be found here.