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Mount Ararat can be climbed in spring through fall. During late fall or winter when avalanche risk is high, be wary of attempting a climb except in very low-risk conditions. This is an easy scramble with most of the route on-trail. Views are pleasant. Ararat was named by James Longmire, who thought that the flat area of the peak, filled with boulders, looked like the landing site for Noah’s Ark.
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Driving
From the Nisqually Entrance, drive approximately 3 miles to the Kautz Creek parking area located on the south side of the road.
Route
Depart from the Kautz Creek trailhead, located across the road from the parking area. Follow the trail northward. Leave it at approximately 5230' and ascend the gully to the ridge. Turn right on the ridge for easy scrambling to the broad and flat peak. The topo map shows a reduced avalanche risk route when snow conditions warrant this alternative.
Comments
Crossing the Kautz Creek used to be require a sturdy bridge but since the large floods of 2006 the main channel relocated east making the remnant of the creek much easier to cross. An ambitious day would be to add Mount Ararat after Copper and Iron. This can be done by leaving the trail due east of the Ararat summit and heading west to the summit following best terrain. Descend using the route described above.
Vital Statistics: Mount Ararat
Mount Ararat Topo
(use CalTopo to print PDF topo, view Google Earth, download tracks, for trail head weather) [How to ?]
Mount Ararat Photos
Summer view of route
Ararat in late spring at the point where you leave the trail. Head up gully at about 315 deg. bearing and ascend the ridge on or to the right side.
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