Esmeralda Peaks Route Information

Esmeralda Peaks

Map Annotations:

• (A) - This large rock sits at the switchback (5450') - the point where the route starts up to Esmeralda Peaks.
  
• (B) - About 1/2 way up the route, a talus-filled basin is reached. Peaks are ahead.
  
• (C) - Saddle between the East & West peaks, East peak in background.
  
• (D) - A shot of Gallagher Head Lake.
  
• (E) - Looking up from near the road at the Adit #1 area.
  
• (F) - A person inside the open cut in the upper Adit #1 area.
  
• (G) - This shot is taken from on top of the open cut area, down past the cut towards the road.
  
• (H) - Adit #2 area, with the flooded shaft to the right, and the collapsed adit straight ahead.

This shot from Esmeralda summit shows the area and features around Gallagher Head Lake.

Driving:
Drive I-90 east to Cle Elum. Take Exit 85, go across freeway and turn right (east) onto SR 970. In approximately 2.5 miles, take the left fork onto SR 97. After 4.5 miles, turn left onto Teanaway Road. Drive 13.5 miles to 29 Pines Campground, take right fork #9737 onto dirt. After 1.4 miles take the left fork #112. After 2.5 miles, take the left fork, passing the Beverly Campground after .3 miles. After 4 miles, you will reach the DeRoux Campground, and the trailhead. About 2 hours from Issaquah.

Hiking/Bushwhacking:
Hike the Boulder/DeRoux trail, which starts out fairly flat, crosses a newish bridge, and goes through a nice meadow. Soon after, it starts steadily gaining elevation while ascending the DeRoux Creek Valley. After about 2.5 miles, the trail crosses the creek and enters the beautiful upper meadows of creek basin. The trail will start a couple big switchbacks, and at about 3 miles a large rock will be standing at the end of a switchback. If you are heading to Esmeralda Peaks, this is where you start thinking about heading off-trail, up the slope to the right.

We hiked about a 100 yards past the rock until we came to an open area, with talus to the north. From here we just started up through open talus and light forested terrain. Occasionally a human/wildlife path can be followed, but it is easy just to pick the best route as you go. About 1/2 way up is a large talus basin, we climbed up the middle of it towards the summits. The last few feet of the east summit is a short scramble, the west summit is a walkup, where the summit register is located. Total time: 4 hours or so to summits.

If it is a hot day, bring plenty of water for the section after the last creek crossing.