Dege Peak

Description

Dege Peak is located in the northeast quadrant of Mount Rainier National Park in a sub-range called the Sourdough Mountains. It is situated at the east end of the Sourdough Ridge where it floats above Yakima Park. The south face is covered by meadows and small trees and an easy trail leads to the summit. The north face is steeper and rockier. Trail approaches can be made from the east or the west. From the west, a 4.2 mile round-trip from the parking lot at Sunrise via the easy Sourdough Ridge Trail gains approximately 800 feet of elevation. From the east, a three mile round-trip trail gains about 900 feet elevation from the parking area at Sunrise Point. The hike can be done in about 2-3 hours depending on the amount of time you want to enjoy the view from the top. Dege Peak is a popular day-hike destination on sunny summer weekends so expect company at the top. The view from the summit has a beautiful commanding view of Mount Rainier and its Emmons and Winthrop Glaciers. In addition, on a clear day one can see as far away as Glacier Peak, Bears Breast Mountain, Mount Daniel, Mount Stuart, Mount Aix, Goat Rocks, and Mount Adams. Seasonally, the slopes of Dege Peak are covered with wildflowers such as lupine, Indian paintbrush, phlox, aster, and more. Dege is pronounced such that it rhymes with "reggae". ('deg-ay)

Refer to the guidebook Best Easy Day Hikes Mount Rainier National Park by Heidi Schneider and Mary Skjelset for more information.

Thanks to theyogiclimber for this description.