Distance

1.0 mi to summit

2.1 mi total

Elevation

783 ft start

Vertical

459 ft gain

Time

24 min to summit

53 min total

Chose to ascend the peak from the northern trailhead off Shoal Creek Drive. Not too much work is required to top out from there, but good agility and quick reflexes come in handy when dodging the mountain bikers that come shooting down the trail. In fact, from the north, this is more or less a mountain biking trail in which hikers are the minority. Several jumps and berms are built into the trail to enhance the mountain bike riding experience. I bypassed Peak 1080 on the way up in favor of reaching North Van Dam Peak first. After the gaggle of mountain bikers left the summit, I was able to take photos of it shortly after I arrived. On the way down, I took the spur trail that leads to the top of Peak 1080. I was expecting to do some bushwhacking on this one, but the trail is well defined and not overgrown. And best of all, it is not on the mountain bikers' route! So the summit was free of other visitors, and free of tire tracks, for that matter.

Route name

North Van Dam Peak 1.8 mi route

out-and-back
Obstacles

no info yet

Key gear

no info yet

Other peaks climbed on this trip