Goat Mountain to Vanson Peak Tr217

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3D view of Goat Mountain Trail #217

Overall: 8

Aerobic: 9

Technical: 7

Steepness: 8

Flow: 5

Singletrack: 100%

Washingtons Goat Mountain Tr217 has a bit of a reputation for extreme climbing, largely due to how it is often ridden.

Type

Loop

Length

Avg: 17mi

Ascent

Mt Goat

Elevation Change

TH:2950'
Avg Ascent:5600'

Ascent Incline

19%

Duration

Avg: 4hr

Weather
Forecast

NOAA

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USFS

Trail
Review

Have no doubt, this trail system has two very steep sections, at the beginning of Goat Mt Tr217 and at the intersection of Tumwater Tr218 and Goat Cr Tr205.

The best ride profiles begin with an ascent, when riders are fresh, so any ride that looks like this can get a bit of a reputation.

 

Here are three alternatives:

1. The ride described on this page is the Goat Mt Tr217 to Vanson Peak Tr217A 17mi OAB ride.

This is a moderate ride after the initial 2mi 22% climb from the Goat Mt FR2612 TH.

 

2. A 19mi CW variation starts at Green River Tr213, ascends Vanson Ridge Tr213A to Goat Mt Tr217, returning on Green River Tr213, with 15% climb.

This could also start from the Goat Mt TH and use Green River Tr213 as a warmup descent.

Ding: Green River Tr213 gets a lot of equestrian use.

 

3. The 25mi (9400' ascent) Tumwater Tr218 lollipop loop, covered on that page. From Riffe Lake, take FR2750 to the Goat Cr Tr205 TH and go CW or CCW on Goat Mt Tr217 and Tumwater Tr218, with a 12% Goat Cr Tr205 ascent.

If the 4mi climb up FR2750 is driveable then this loop would be 17.6mi, with 5600' elevation gain.

Directions: There are three access points: Goat Mt TH is near Ryan Lake on FR2612, and is the best access point for the Goat Mt - Vanson Pk ride. Goat Creek TH starts at FR2750, and is the best access point for the Goat Mt - Tumwater epic. Vanson Ridge starts from the Green River, accessed from SR504 to Weyerhaeuser Rd 2500, and is the best access point for the Goat - Green ride. To the Goat Mt TH: FR26 to Norway Pass then to Ryan Lake. TH is about 1500ft west of FR26 on FR2612. View Larger Map. No Map?.

Goat Mountain Trail #217 Topo Map

OAB Directions

hiking occurs

Goat Mountain Area Topo Map

  • TH: 2.2mi of unrelenting 19% ascent to the top of Goat Mountain, followed by a ridgeline descent to Deadmans Lake and the Tumwater Tr218 intersection.
  • 5.1mi: Option to make a side trip to Deadmans Lake, or go OAB 4.5mi on the Tumwater Tr218 ridgeline, (after which it descends sharply to Goat Cr Tr205). Goat Mt Tr217 continues 2.3mi to the Goat Cr Tr205 intersection with Vanson Rdg Tr213A.
  • 7.5mi: Go on Vanson Rdg Tr213A around to meet up with Goat Mt Tr217 again, then retrace Goat Mt Tr217 to the TH.

 

 

Trail Index

This Ride

Goat Mountain Trail 217, Green River Trail 213, Vanson Peak Trail 217A, Vanson Ridge Trail 213A

Hiking

Deadmans Lake Trail 217D, Deep Lake Trail 217E, Quartz Creek Big Trees Trail 219, Ryan Lake Trail 222, Vanson Lake Trail 217B

Campgrounds

Iron Creek Campground, Taidnapam Park Campground, Tower Rock Campground

Trail Rankings

Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.

  • Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
  • Aerobic: Ascent challenge
  • Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
  • Steepness: Average incline
  • Flow: Uninterrupted riding
  • Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
  • Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge