Wenatchee is the largest city of Chelan County, located in North Central Washington and lies on the west side of the Columbia River. The city is also known as the Apple Capital of the world, due to the valley's many apple cultivations.
Cardinal Peak is the highest peak of the Chelan Mountains, located in the Cascade Range, west of Lake Chelan. The top elevation of the summit is at 8590ft/2618m high, suitable for climbing from June to October. In order to approach Cardinal Mountain, you hike the North Fork Entiat Trail that follows Entiat River, until you reach a junction where you turn left on a trail, leading you to an open area.
After hiking through the open area, walk towards the standard route to Cardinal Mountain. It is a great scramble climbing experience, for advanced climbers, offering gravelly basins and lower slopes. The summit of the mountain is highly eroded, but once you reach the top, there are breathtaking views of the alpine mountains around you.
Cardinal Peak can be reached in one day, but for the most adventurous climbers, it can be done as a two days trip or more, if combined with the surrounding summits mountain climb. If you visit the mountain in early season, take an ice axe and crampons with you.
