Eldorado Peak via Inspiration Glacer 8,868 Feet

I did Eldorado Peak as one of my Mountaineer basic climbs. Everything went perfectly on this trip. The weather was great, and we had a great group of people in our party.

Directions: Drive Highway 20 to Marblemount, take the Cascade River Road for 19.9 miles to a large parking lot that has a nice outhouse.

Route: From the parking lot hike back down the road about 100 feet to a trail that crosses the river via a large downed log. Follow this trail up Eldorado Creek Basin. Soon you will come to a large boulder field. Scramble through up middle of the boulder field until you come to a small waterfall. Find the trail to the right of the creek and follow it. The trail will come to a large open area that is a good place to camp if you are doing the climb as an overnight. Otherwise continue North, North-West to a ridge. Gain the ridge and look for a gulley to go down to the West side of the ridge. Once on the other side of the ridge continue hiking North along the base of the cliffs. In a little less that a mile from the gulley you will reach the Inspiration Glacier. Continue North across the Glacier for a little more than a half mile, then head West to the famous summit ridge of Eldorado.

Descent: Descend the same route.