Duncan Hill

Duncan Hill delivers a summit experience that outperforms its modest name. The 13.2-mile round trip climbs 3,100 feet from the Entiat Valley through a 2014 burn zone before entering unburned forest around mile 1.5. The trail is dry and exposed in the burn area, then transitions to green canopy as it approaches Duncan Creek at mile 3.8, the only reliable water source on the route.

Above Duncan Creek, meadows open up and the terrain shifts to wildflower slopes. The summit spur at mile 6 is steep and rocky, but the top at 7,819 feet provides panoramic views of Mount Rainier, the Stuart Range, and Glacier Peak. Volunteer trail crews have done extensive cut-through work in the burn zone, creating corridors of cleared timber that are distinctive to walk through.

The trailhead sits at the end of a mostly paved drive up the Entiat River Road, with the last 6 miles on Forest Road 5608. A Northwest Forest Pass is required. Dogs are welcome on leash. The trail connects beyond the summit to the Emerald Park Trail for ambitious parties wanting to extend the trip. This is a full-day commitment with significant elevation, but the summit payoff ranks among the best in the Entiat range.