Philadelphia Mountain
Central CascadesBest Jun–Oct
An off-trail slog to a quiet summit above Lake Serene, for scramblers who value solitude over views.
About This Trail
Philadelphia Mountain is an off-trail scramble above Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls in the Stevens Pass corridor. No maintained trail exists to the summit. The route starts from the popular Lake Serene trailhead and requires navigation through forest, steep terrain, and potentially snow to reach the top. WTA describes it as requiring "gear and expertise."
Trip reports are blunt about the experience: one calls it "an unimpressive summit that's a slog to get to." The appeal is in the challenge and solitude rather than the destination. Winter and spring attempts involve significant snow travel, and the route up from Lake Serene climbs through dense forest before reaching the summit ridge. The peak sees very few visitors despite the popular trailhead below.
The Lake Serene parking lot is extremely busy on weekends, particularly in summer. Weekday starts are strongly recommended. The forest roads to the trailhead are passable for passenger vehicles. This is a peak for scramblers and off-trail enthusiasts who enjoy route-finding and solitude more than destination views.
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
“Awesome snowshoe trip with SoaringEagle up to first Lake Serene, and then up to the summit of Philadelphia Mountain.”
Last report: Feb 12, 2025
Scorecard
Almost no one climbs this peak. The Lake Serene trailhead below is packed, but the off-trail route above sees near-zero traffic.
Permits / Passes
Safety & Considerations
Persistent Hazards
- No maintained trail, route-finding required throughout
- Snow travel and navigation needed in winter/spring
- Dense forest with limited visibility for navigation
Getting There
Use the Lake Serene trailhead parking. Extremely busy on summer weekends; arrive early or go on a weekday.
Recent Reports
Awesome snowshoe trip with SoaringEagle up to first Lake Serene, and then up to the summit of Philadelphia Mountain. Road to the Lake Serene trailhead is compact snow and ice.
If you looking for an unimpressive summit that's a slog to get to, have I got one for you! Tagged Philadelphia Mountain with JeremyAnderson8 today.
Inspired by @Norm 's trip report, I departed the Lake Serene parking lot at 7AM. Still dark, but with half a moon there was sufficient light to forgo the headlamp.
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