Mt. Adams Summit

At an elevation of 12,276 feet, Mt. Adams is the second highest peak in Washington; however, with an 18-mile wide diameter it is the largest volcano by bulk in the state. It supports over 10 active glaciers that provide water to the forests, streams, and meadows below. These glaciers, along with adjoining ridges and permanent snow fields, sport many climbing routes of varying difficulty to the summit. All require proficiency in alpine mountaineering, route-finding, and use of ice axe and crampons. Some require more advanced skills in navigating crevasses, bergschrunds, ice falls, rock headwalls, and other complex terrain. All involve a significant degree of inherent danger and risk. Be prepared and know your limits.

The remoteness and wilderness character of Mt. Adams led to its designation as a wild area under the Forest Service U2 regulations in 1942 and ultimately to its inclusion in the Wilderness Act of 1964. This designation includes the summit of Mt. Adams, where restrictions apply for those seeking adventure on its higher ridges and summit as well as those enjoying the meadows, forest, and lakes below.

Only the western half of Mt. Adams lies within the Mt. Adams Wilderness managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The eastern half of Mt. Adams lies within the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation and is managed by the tribe. The portion of the mountain on Yakama Nation lands is largely closed to recreation. Exceptions are routes ascending the Mazama Glacier and hiking in the Bird Creek Meadows area, though only at certain times of the year. Contact the Yakama Nation for information regarding closures.

Weather on Mt. Adams can change rapidly. Sudden snowstorms can occur above 6,000 feet elevation at any month of the year, severely limiting visibility and increasing risk of hypothermia. The difficulty of a route can change drastically during these storms. Your safety requires preparation and good judgment. Monitor conditions and weather forecasts by the National Weather Service and any special postings by the NW Weather and Avalanche Center .

The road to the South Climb trailhead requires good clearance and All Wheel Drive year-round. Four Wheel Drive is recommended.

When parking do NOT block, or partially block, other vehicles, the roadway, turnarounds, or trailhead parking area loops. *Blocking traffic will prevent emergency vehicles from accessing the area in the event of an emergency. Park farther down the road, if necessary, in a pull-off well off the road surface.

Visitors climbing Mt. Adams must pack out their human waste in human waste carry-out bags. Decomposition processes above 7000’ elevation happen too slowly to keep up with what is being deposited in the ecosystem, so it is important that visitors follow this regulation to avoid the accumulation of human feces in the climbing area. We currently provide human waste carry-out bags (scat packs) free of charge in front of the Mt. Adams Ranger District office. Please pack out your own bags, there are no collection services available.

Current Conditions Report: View the latest Mt. Adams Climbing Report (PDF)

Map: Download a Mobile Friendly Mount Adams Wilderness Map (via Avenza maps app)

Current Conditions

5/22/2025: Snow on the road is still blocking access to the South Climb Trailhead. Currently, you can drive within a mile of the South Climb Trailhead and can foresee finding reliable parking about 3 miles from the South Climb Trailhead at or near Morrison Creek Campground. Due to fire closures from the William’s Mine Fire in 2024, the gate at Morrison Creek Campground has remained closed, further blocking access to the remaining 3 miles of road to South Climb Trailhead. The gate will be opened when snow has melted and allows access for one of our rangers to open it.
For more information contact Mt. Adams Ranger District 509-395-3402.

General Information

KEY SAFETY TIPS

Prepare:

Leave your itinerary and estimated time of return with a third party, but please make sure they understand that it is very common for climbing Mt. Adams to take longer than anticipated.
Carry the ten essentials including first aid supplies.
ALWAYS carry crampons and an ice axe. Know how to use them.

Safety Essentials: View a list of essentials to bring and information about how to prevent and recognize hypothermia and altitude sickness.

Glissading:

Glissade with caution!
Unmarked obstacles may be found in glissading chutes. Make sure chutes are clear of people below you and be aware of your speed.
Remove crampons to avoid potential serious injury.

Stick together:

50% of search and rescues on Mt. Adams involve parties of both novice and experienced climbers who have separated from each other.

Check multiple forecasts:

Climbers should be aware that forecasts for the surrounding areas do not necessarily reflect mountain weather. Please reference a point forecast from NOAA or the National Weather Service for more specific information on weather conditions.

Lunch counter, and any area above tree-line, is not a safe place to be in a thunderstorm
White-outs can occur at any time, even mid-summer.

Know your route:

The most straight forward route is currently the South Climb winter route. As of April 22nd, coverage on the winter route is sufficient to ski from the South Climb Trailhead to the summit, however snow is melting out every day at the lower elevations. Please remember that visibility will be limited as storms move in, especially at higher elevations, and tracks can be hard to see after fresh snow or melting events.

There are no maintained, or marked, trails to the summit.

DO NOT RELY ON YOUR CELL PHONE

Year-round

A Mt. Adams Climbing Pass is required from May 1st to September 30th for anyone age 16 and older traveling above 7000ft elevation on Mt. Adams, even if not attempting the summit. During the off-season, October - April, only a self-issued Wilderness Permit is required to climb above 7000'.

Your climbing pass must be always carried on your person AND be placed in the windshield of your vehicle. Print two copies or have one downloaded on your phone and one printed in your vehicle. There is limited cell phone coverage near the Forest. Please plan ahead and purchase/print your passes ahead of arrival.

A self-issued Wilderness Permit is always required for those traveling 7000’ or below. Free, self-issued, wilderness permits are available at the Trailhead.

Review all Wilderness restrictions

Group size limit is 12. Entering or being in wilderness with a group consisting of a combination of persons, and pack or saddle stock exceeding 12 in total number is prohibited (36 CFR 261.58(f)).
Building, maintaining, or using a campfire, within Mt. Adams Wilderness is prohibited:
- Above the Round-The-Mountain Trail #9 from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Boundary west to Pacific Crest Trail #2000
- Above Pacific Crest Trail #2000 north to the intersection of Highline Trail #114
- Above trail #114 north and east to the Gifford Pinchot Forest Boundary. (36 CFR 261.52(a)
- View map (.pdf)
Motorized/mechanized use is prohibited: Including of use of drones, hang-gliders, snowmobiles and mountain bikes.
Pack out all solid wastes.