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Mountaineers outings typically scramble Mount Wow from the Nisqually Entrance. This is a long day with an total gain of almost 5000'. An alternate route to Wow leaves from the Westside Road and passes by Lake Allen. The Lake Allen route is shorter, with less elevation gain, and it is just as lovely. On a clear day, the views of Rainier from Mount Wow are spectacular. The origin of Wow’s name is uncertain. One source says it is derived from an Indian word for fox.
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Driving
There are two routes to Mount Wow.
Via the Westside Road: From the Nisqually Entrance, drive approximately 1 mile and turn left on the Westside Road. Set your odometer to zero and in 1.85 miles look for an “X” marking a tree on the left side of the road. The elevation should be 2515'.
Via the Nisqually Entrance: The trailhead leaves just a few yards north of the Nisqually Entrance kiosk. Because there is no parking there, you must park just outside the park boundary on the south side of the road.
Route
Via Westside Road and Lake Allen: The X marks the start. There is no formal trail. Assuming you can find the X on the tree, there is a decent footpath for much of the way to Lake Allen. Carefully follow the directions in the route table at the end of this Wow section. The footpath ends before Lake Allen and there is no path beyond Lake Allen. Good routefinding skills are a necessity for this route.
Via the Nisqually Entrance: This route is doable in early spring and is the traditional route used by the Mountaineers. It is longer and gains more elevation than the Lake Allen route. From the Nisqually Entrance, look for the West Boundary Trail (marked with unmaintained trail sign), located just off the north side of the road by the entrance station (and east of the ranger’s home). Follow this trail (this guide’s topo map is only approximate) until you reach a flat saddle at 3700'. Turn right on the ridge—you may find a faint bootpath. There are several rocky outcroppings on the ridge. One of them has a big step, so be careful, there is some exposure. At about 4700', leave the ridge; drop 50–100' and cross a treed and somewhat open bowl. Ascend to 5400', as shown on this guide’s topo map, and follow the ridge, entering short valley that leads to the final approach. When snow is present, we think it best to travel the final 200' via the southwest ridge rather than via the open slope.
Comments
For the Nisqually Entrance route you have to park just outside the park on the south side of the road. Walk into the park and find the trail almost due north of the entrance kiosk. Unless you are fixated on the Nisqually Entrance route, we strongly recommend the Lake Allen route. But fair warning: there are more routefinding challenges on the Lake Allen route. The Westside Road is closed in winter, so the Lake Allen route is practically possible only when the road is open. There is also a third option for reaching Wow: via FS 59 (the turnoff is a couple of miles before the Nisqually Entrance) to Goat Creek and then to the park boundary on a ridge that meets the trail. Though this option looks straightforward on the map (and saves about 1000' of elevation), the route is very brushy and not pleasant at all.
Vital Statistics: Mount Wow
Skill: Difficult scramble, requires good route finding skills
Beauty: 8
Effort: 6
Round-trip distance
via Lake Allen: 8 miles
via Nisqually Entrance: 10 miles
Elevation
via Lake Allen: 3530'
via Nisqually Entrance: 5000'
Total time
via Lake Allen: 7 hours
via Nisqually Entrance: 9 hours
Best season
via Lake Allen: not recommended until snow has consolidated, May or later
via Nisqually Entrance: may be possible earlier
Equipment: Scramble gear
Mount Wow Topo
(use CalTopo to print PDF topo, view Google Earth, download tracks, for trailhead weather) [How to ?]
Mount Wow Photo
“X” marking the path leading to Lake Allen, 1.85 miles up the Westside Road
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