Pinnacle Peak (King County, Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pinnacle Peak |
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Pinnacle Peak seen from the north
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,801 ft (549 m) |
| Prominence | 981 ft (299 m) |
| Geography | |
 Pinnacle Peak
Location in Washington (state)
Pinnacle Peak
Location in the United States
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| Parent range | Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Enumclaw |
| Type of rock | Basalt |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hiking trail |
Pinnacle Peak, also known as Mount Peak, is a 1,801 ft forest-covered summit located in King County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range and is set at the western edge of the range, immediately south of Enumclaw, Washington and 25 miles northwest of Mount Rainier. There is also another summit named Pinnacle Peak in the Tatoosh Range to the south of Mount Rainier.
History
First called Mount Pete for Pete Chorak, an early Enumclaw settler, Pete became misheard as Peak, and the name Mount Peak received some followers. A former fire lookout built on the summit was called the Pinnacle Peak Lookout, hence the name Pinnacle Peak emerged. The one mile trail on the north side of Pinnacle Peak is called the Cal Magnusson Trail for a long time Cascade mountaineer who worked at REI for 25 years with famed American mountain climber Jim Whittaker.
Climate
Pinnacle Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). As a result, the west side of the Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. 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. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into the White River which cuts below the south base of the peak.
Geology
Pinnacle Peak is a 1,000 ft extinct volcanic cinder cone rising up from the flat farmlands surrounding Enumclaw. This flat terrain was created by the Osceola Mudflow that spread from nearby Mount Rainier approximately 5,600 years ago. Some of Pinnacle Peak is buried beneath this mudflow since the peak predates the mudflow. Extruded outcroppings of columnar basalt can be seen along the trails near the top of the peak.
Hiking
The 256 acre Pinnacle Peak is encompassed by the 334 acre Pinnacle Peak Park. The steep, forested, one mile Cal Magnusson Trail is located on the north side of the peak. The south slope trail has more parking and more gradual grade along a gravel road and trail, with a couple views looking south to Mount Rainier and west to Buckley, Washington. On a busy weekend the trails will see 300-400 visitors per day. It's a popular hike for locals and those in training to climb Mt. Rainier. The summit is tree-covered so no views, but remnants of the concrete footings for the lookout are still there, as well as a USGS benchmark. There are budgeted plans for rebuilding the lookout so that there will again be views from the top.
Gallery
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Mount Rainier seen from south side trail
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Pinnacle Peak
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Buckley seen from south side trail
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The Three Sisters seen from trail
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Long Hill seen from south side trail
- Pinnacle Peak weather forecast
