One of the hidden mountain gems of the Olympic Mountains, Wellesley Peak is remote, rugged and precipitous from almost any angle. Wellesley Peak is the dominant peak between the Dosewallips and Silt Creek drainage of the eastern Olympic Range. It commands the skyline from Gray Wolf Pass, Lost Pass and the ridge to the east above Thousand Acre Meadow, but is not visible from the meadow itself. Though it has 958 feet of prominence, Wellesley Peak is rarely climbed. Wellesley Peak has one of the longest approaches in the Olympic Range With almost 24 miles of trail, bushwacking and scrambling to reach the summit.

This class two mountain contains mostly loose talus and shale rock. Scrambling is a must as the ridgeline steepens into almost a vertical climb near the summit. The ridge to the summit is very exposed, dropping off on both sides into either Wellesley Basin or the Silt Creek Valley. Only a narrow jagged ridge leading from an unnamed 6500 foot peak west of Wellesley Peak provides access to the summit. The ridge offers some of the finest views of hidden peaks and ridges around Diamond Mountain and the Piro's Spire area of the central/eastern Olympics. To reach the summit of Wellesley Peak from this ridge is a bit of a hassle, with some exposed sections, but can be done in about 1-2 hours with careful bushwacking and scrambling.

Wellesley Peak's West Face

The ridge to Wellesley Peak can be reached via Thousand Acre Meadow. Upon reaching the unnamed 6500 foot peak on the SE corner of the meadow head up and over onto a boulder filled shelf ridgeline. This easy walk can take a climber halfway down the exposed ridge without any danger at all. An arrow like rock spire is the point at which the broad walking shelf ends and actual scrambling along the ridge begins. Approaching to the south of this arrow is the best way. From there on out it's a scratchy bushwack through Fir, Cedar and dead tree limbs to reach the rounded secondary summit on the southwest shoulder of Wellesley Peak. The tree's provide nice handholds the whole way down the ridge. However, once the high point of the ridgeline is reached it's only exposed scrambling the rest of the way to the summit. The last pitch requires good hand holds and quick scrambling, as the rock gives way and plummets down into Wellesley Basin.

Looking up towards the summit

Commanding superb views of the beautiful Silt Creek Valley to the south, and the drier rugged peaks bordering the Dosewallips to the north and east, Wellesley Peak offers a view of the 10 highest peaks in the Olympic Range. To the south above Silt Creek, Piro's Spire, Diamond Mountain and the Anderson Massif rise in pinnacled beauty. Eel Glacier clings to the spires of West Peak as it thrusts itself higher than it's neighbor, Mount Anderson. White Mountain, Mount Stone, The Brother's and Mount Washington fill in the gaps to the south. The western view is just as spectacular with Mount's Olympus, Meany, Queets and Seattle dominating the horizon behind Crystal Peak, Sentinel Peak, Mount Fromme and Mount Claywood. Thousand Acre Meadow captures the view in the foreground above Wellesley's western buttresses. Tiny lakes and tarns dot it's spacious lushness. Looking north the view only takes on a more unique beauty. The drier Olympics leading to the mass of Mount Deception rise, ridge upon jagged ridge, above the Dosewallips River Valley. Mount Cameron, Lost Peak, Peak 7060 and the Needles lead the beholder to the heights of Mount Deception. Deception Basin is visible to the north of Mount Mystery, which stands prominently in the foreground of Mount Fricaba, Mount Constance and Inner Constance to the east.

The beautiful Wellesley Basin lies at the base of Wellesley Peak. Knerr Creek drains from Wellesley Peak into the Dosewallips River to the north. This meadow expanse of boulders, snowfields, small streams and wildflowers, is a perfect home for Elk and Marmots. Kestrels and Hawks can be seen soaring upon the heights around the basin and over into Thousand Acre Meadow. From the basin Wellesley appears ruggedly jagged. Steep slopes of shale and talus fall away from the summit of Wellesley into this beautiful untouched piece of Olympic Wilderness. A stunning outcrop of Wellesley's northern ridge overlooks the basin on the north end of the basin. Snow lingers in the basin during the hotter months of August and September, feeding Knerr Creek on it's journy to the Dosewallips.

Wellesley Basin

View North from Wellesley Basin of Lost Peak & Mt Cameron

Major Peaks from Wellesley Peak

Getting to Wellesley Peak

The approach to Wellesley Peak is a long one. Backpacking up the entire length of the main Dosewallips River trail to near Hayden Pass is the easiest route. The road is still, and probably will always still be, washed out, so it adds five miles onto the main fork of the Dosewallips River Trail. It's about 20 miles from the trailhead to the turn off into cross country bushwacking near Hayden Pass from the trailhead. From the open meadows beneath Hayden Pass head east into Thousand Acre Meadow. Sentinel Peak rises to the west here, and a 6,000 foot plus spur rises off of it's eastern face. Head to the south of this unnamed peak and into the tree-lined expanse of Thousand Acre Meadow. Rolling ridgelines carpeted with moss, wildflowers, blueberry bushes and small copses of Sub-Alpine Fir dot the landscape to the east. Several small creeks cross the meadow from south to north. Beyond these streams are small lakes and tarns, hidden in the bowls of the gradually sloping smooth ridges. Head up past the meadow. From Thousand Acre Meadow a short scramble up the 6,500 foot ridge on the southeast corner of the meadow can be made. From there, a jagged and exposed ridge leads about a quarter mile to the summit of Wellesley Peak.

Red Tape

Ferns in Wellesley Basin

Flowers in Wellesley Basin

The Dosewallips River trail requires a $5.00 dollar fee for each person to enter the park and $2.00 per night per person to spend the night. Make sure and fill out the appropriate paper work not far from the trailhead before entering the National Park. Be sure to check in with the ranger at the ranger station (if he's there) if you have any further questions regarding this permit.

Camping Around Wellesley Peak

Serene Lake on Wellesley's western buttress

Camping can be done at either Dose Meadows (about 4-5 miles from Wellesley Peak) or at Bear Camp (about 6-7 miles from Wellesley Peak). However, spectacular views can be had from Thousand Acre Meadow. Several beautiful lakes occupy the eastern end of the meadow and provide exceptional views of sunsets and sunrises on Sentinel Peak and Mount's Fromme and Claywood. The shores of these lakes and tarns are abundant with frogs. Thousands of tiny tadpoles can be seen swimming in the shallow depths of these surprisingly warm waters. Hayden Pass, Lost Pass and Cameron Pass can all be viewed directly to the west and north of these lakes. Since no bear wire is available in these areas it is advisable to plan for the correct measures against bears, which are thick in this area of the Dosewallips region. Several copses of stately firs provide a place for homemade bearwire. If this is not available to you, be sure and bring a bear canister to store your food. Make sure and follow the rules about no fires above 3,500 feet. I saw a campfire in upper Thousand Acre Meadow that didn't look too old. It's a shame that people have to disregard Park regulations, especially when they are intended to keep the area pristine for future backpackers.

Lost Pass Photos of Wellesley

The Entire Wellesley Massif from Lost Pass

Viewed from Lost Pass

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