Walla Walla County Highpoint Trip Report
Lewis Peak (4,888 ft)
Date: June 25, 2011
Author: Greg Schmidt
After reading the other trip reports involving private property issues, I decided to take a different approach
from the east which is almost completely on National Forest land except the last little bit right near the summit.
It is longer than the "standard" west approach but follows an established trail the whole way and thus is not difficult.
More details on the route below.
The route worked out well. However, my attempt to avoid the private property issues failed
when the property owner happened to drive up the road right when I was near the summit!
He was nice enough to give me permission to hike on his land (as long as I stayed on the trail)
and said that anyone else wanting to cross his land should ask permission first.
Land owner contact info
Mike Perkins
509-948-8140
Property parcel info
There are two possible high points at the summit near the western boundary of this parcel.
One of them technically is on the neighboring parcel but just barely.
All other travel for my east approach is on government land.
Property parcel info is from the Walla Walla county auditor website. The county auditor records
could be a good way to search for land owner contact information. Ease of use will be different
for every county, though. Anyone approaching from the west can use this website
to find the other nearby private property owners to get permission.
Route info for east approach
Driving directions
Take Hwy 12 to Dayton, WA. Reset odometer at the turnoff from Hwy 12.
Head southeast on 4th Street which turns into North Touchet Road and then Forest Road 64.
At 24.0 miles, turn left to stay on Forest Road 64.
At 26.1 miles, park along the road (no parking lot) at the
trailhead.
There's a small sign but it could be easily missed.
This road continues on to Table Rock.
Hiking directions
Follow the trail west past Sharp Benchmark and Deadman Peak.
Turn left here
headed south then west again along the main ridge.
Turn right at a trail intersection
where a tree has an old "8211" sign on it.
Follow the trail southwest to Green Peak and then WNW.
Just past the National Forest boundary sign, turn right at the
trail intersection.
Continue northwest to the summit.
This route is roughly 10 miles hiking round trip.
Note that the summit of Lewis Peak is about 1,000 feet LOWER than the trailhead,
so there's more elevation gain on the way back. Most of the time the trail follows the ridge
which defines the watershed boundary, so don't wander south of the trail into the watershed.
Due to the high snow year, I couldn't drive past the left turn
here which added another four miles
hiking round trip. Plus the eastern half of the route still had snow on most of it,
so I lost and regained the trail a few times. Should be pretty easy to follow once it's melted out though.