Thunder Peak
A demanding all-day climb with exposed scrambling and the best panoramic summit in the region.
8°C
28 km/h W
High winds above treeline. Scramble section is dry. Cold at summit.
1 hour ago
About This Trail
Let's be clear: this trail is hard. Not 'hard if you're out of shape' — hard in an absolute sense. 1,380 meters of elevation gain in 14.6 kilometers. The first 8 kilometers are steady climbing through forest. Nothing technical. Just relentless upward.
At kilometer 8 you break treeline. The next 3 kilometers are on exposed rock slabs with cairns marking the route. This is where people turn back. The wind hits you, the exposure gets real, and the false summit at kilometer 11 breaks morale if you don't know it's coming.
The scramble section is 200 meters of class 2-3 rock. Hands and feet. No rope needed for competent hikers but if you're afraid of heights, this is not your trail.
The summit is genuinely spectacular. 360-degree views across four mountain ranges. On a clear day you can see the ocean. The descent is faster but harder on the knees — poles help a lot.
We only run this in groups of 4 max. Safety matters when you're 8 hours from the trailhead.
Elevation Profile
What to Bring
- Proper hiking boots (no trail runners)
- 3L water + electrolytes
- Layers: base, mid, shell, puffy
- Gloves and warm hat
- Trekking poles
- Headlamp + spare batteries
- First aid kit
- Emergency bivy or space blanket
Your Guide
“I've guided this peak 80+ times. The false summit gets everyone on their first attempt. I tell my groups about it at kilometer 6 so they're mentally prepared. The scramble is more mental than physical — good foot placement and patience.”
Marcus Webb
Lead Guide · 12 years experience