Washington’s Knife’s Edge trail is snowed in most of the year, and it just opened for the season
Washington has its share of hikes people fight permit lotteries for. This isn’t one of them — and that might be the best thing about it.
The Knife’s Edge sits deep in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, a narrow, exposed ridge along the Pacific Crest Trail where Mount Rainier fills one horizon and Mount Adams fills the other. It’s buried under snow for most of the year. Right now, in late July, it’s about as open as it gets.
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A ridge between two volcanoes
Goat Rocks Wilderness sits in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, wedged in the Cascades between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams near the town of Packwood. The Knife’s Edge itself is a stretch of the PCT that narrows down to a rocky spine, with drop-offs on both sides and views that don’t let up. It’s one of the most talked-about ridge walks in the state, and it earns the reputation.
This isn’t beginner terrain, and it shouldn’t be treated like it. The exposure is real, snow can linger on the ridge well into summer, and conditions are worth checking with the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District before you commit to a plan.
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How far you actually have to go
Start at the Snowgrass Trailhead (Trail 96) and you’ve got options. The hike to Snowgrass Flat alone — a subalpine meadow that fills with wildflowers in July and August — is 8.2 miles round trip with about 1,600 feet of elevation gain, according to Washington Trails Association. That’s a legitimate destination on its own, no ridge walk required.
Push further to Old Snowy Mountain and the Knife’s Edge itself, and the trip stretches to roughly 15.5 miles round trip with about 3,600 feet of climbing, per AllTrails — call it 8 to 9 hours for most hikers. It’s rated hard. It earns that too.
The permit is free, and there’s no lottery
Here’s the part that actually separates this from Washington’s other big-name alpine hikes: there’s no permit lottery, no reservation window, no scrambling for a slot months in advance. You self-issue a free wilderness permit right at the trailhead.
Parking is the harder part — the Snowgrass lot only fits about ten cars along the roadside. If it’s full, the overflow is the nearby Berry Patch Trailhead, which does require a Northwest Forest Pass. Worth grabbing one before you go either way.
When to go
End of July through October is the real window — snowpack in Goat Rocks typically doesn’t clear until late July or August, so this stretch of summer is close to the moment it becomes possible. Wildflowers peak in the meadows through July and August, and huckleberries start showing up trailside later in the season.
One thing worth knowing before you go: the lower stretch of trail near Goat Creek turns into a mosquito situation right after snowmelt, so pack accordingly.
Two volcanoes, one ridge, and nothing standing between you and it but the hike itself and a free slip of paper. Is there a better trade in Washington hiking right now?
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out to Packwood, or lock in a hotel nearby if you’d rather not drive home the same day.
Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.
