Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony

Moderate to strenuous day hiking or trail running linking multiple unofficial trails that offers a nice alternative to the busy thoroughfare that is the standard route to Dirty Harry's Balcony, with the same pretty forest and lovely views.

getting there

Dirty Harry's TrailHead

Eastbound from Seattle: Take Exit 38 off of I-90, head south and cross the Snoqualmie River. Drive east on SE Homestead Valley Rd  as it parallels I-90. Park in the paved lot just after SE Homestead Rd passes under I-90 (1,300 ft).

Westbound from Cle Elum: Take Exit 38 off of I-90, head north, turn right onto SE Homestead Valley Rd, drive a short distance, and park in the paved lot (1,300 ft).

Putrid Pete's Peak Trailhead

Take Exit 42 (Tinkham Road) off of I-9, head north, and park on the north side of the freeway where the trail starts (1,600 ft).

On the Trail

Putrid Pete's Peak Trailhead

6 mile loop, 1,900 feet of elevation gain

Five and a half of the six miles of this route are on unofficial trails. From the north  side of Exit 42 on I-90 an unofficial trail follows Mason Creek up to Forest Road 9031. Take the road west for 0.2 mile to the Ira Spring Trailhead and continue west on the trail to the first switchback. From here a trail traverses west and connects with the trail to Putrid Pete’s Peak. Take the “Putrid Pete's Peak Trail” up three switchbacks to an intersection with a trail leading off to the west.  Turn west and follow this trail to the “East Balcony” and a nice view of the Harry’s Balcony across the way. Continue on the trail through a rock crossing and a number of small stream crossings, and then the trail ends up on an old road. This road ends at the side trail to Dirty Harry’s balcony. Take a left and in a few hundred feet you will arrive to meet the crowds and enjoy the views. On the return trip, continue down the “Putrid Pete's Peak Trail” past the trail to the Ira Spring lot. This trail loses most of the elevation you gained before meeting and following an old road back to Exit 42.

Dirty Harry's Trailhead

5-11 miles round trip, 1,300-3,300 feet of elevation gain

Hike the Dirty Harry's Trail to the Balcony (2,600 ft), East Balcony and back or all the way to Dirty Harry's Peak (4,600 ft)

Dirty Harry's Balcony & Palouse to Cascades Trail Loop

10-mile loop, 2,400 feet of elevation gain, 2,700 ft high point, difficulty: strenuous trail run

This is a beautiful but challenging trip that can be done most of the year.  There are multiple options for starting points but an easy one is the Dirty Harry's trailhead. The trip up to Dirty Harry's Balcony is straightforward but with a fair bit of climbing. The Ira Springs Connector trail is very sparse with some semi-scrambly bits. It's easy to follow, though, and there are a couple of different options for getting all the way to Exit 42. There are two sections of road that must be run: (1) Exit 42 to the lower McClellan's Butte trailhead, relatively short with low traffic volume. From the trailhead take the trail up to the Palouse to Cascades Trail. (2) Palouse to Cascades Trail to Dirty Harry's trailhead. This road serves the upper McClellan's Butte trailhead and has a fair amount of traffic. It's best to start where the Palouse to Cascades Trail meets this road and running to the Dirty Harry's trailhead to avoid the afternoon traffic.

information for Leaders

scheduling & permits

  • Permits are required in this area for all fee-based (course-related) activities, regardless of group size, and all free activities involving 13 or more people. Leaders may list trips at this route/place with the understanding that they need to verify that a permit has been obtained before running the trip (if required as outlined above). Permit applications are submitted to Washington Department of Natural Resources annually in December. Please contact info@mountaineers.org with any additional questions. More details about permitting on WA DNR land as it applies to Mountaineers trips, as well as our current year Land Use License, can be found here.
  • If you're leaving from the Putrid Pete's Peak Trailhead, please review the Ira Spring Trail route/place to be sure a trip is not leaving from this trailhead on the same day.
  • Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
  • Length: 6.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 1,900 ft
  • 2,800 ft
  • Land Manager: Middle Fork NRCA
  • Parking Permit Required: Discover Pass
  • Recommended Party Size: 12
  • Maximum Party Size: 36
  • Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12
Map
  • Green Trails Bandera No. 206
  • Green Trails Middle Fork Snoqualmie No. 174SX
  • Green Trails Mount Si NRCA No. 206S
Activities

Upcoming Activities

Day Hike - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Day Hiking Trip
Let's hike to Dirty Harry's Balcony and beyond!
Difficulty: Moderate
Wed, Mar 20, 2024
No Prerequisites
2 participants on waitlist
Registration closed Mar 18
Foothills Branch
Linda Kuramoto

Day Hike - Dirty Harry's Peak Trail

Day Hiking Trip
Discover Dirty Harry’s Museum with multiple viewpoints along the way. TRIP ONLY FOR THOSE WITH
Difficulty: Moderate
Fri, Apr 5, 2024
No Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
1 participant
Registration closed Feb 23
Foothills Branch

Seattle Explorers & Jr. MAC Hike - Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony

Youth Youth activity
Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
Sun, Apr 14, 2024
Prerequisites
4 participants
Registration closes Apr 12
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader

CHS 1 Hike - Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony

Day Hiking Field trip: Conditioning Hiking Series
CHS hike led at a CHS 1 pace (1.5-2.0 mph)
Difficulty: Moderate
Sun, Apr 21, 2024
No Prerequisites
6 participants 1 instructor
Registration opens Mar 25; Instructor registration open now
Seattle Branch

Alpine Scramble - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Scrambling Trip
Instructor Training for Foothills Scramble Courses
Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
Mon, Apr 22, 2024
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
1 participant 0 leaders
Registration closes Apr 20
Foothills Branch
Danielle Graham
Qualified Youth Leader

Day Hike - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Day Hiking Trip
After-hours Conditioning Hike at a Moderate Pace
Difficulty: Moderate
Wed, Apr 24, 2024
No Prerequisites
8 participants 0 leaders
Registration opens Apr 8
Foothills Branch
Barbara Folmer

Rock Field Trip - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Scrambling Field trip: Women's Alpine Scrambling Course
Learn techniques necessary to scramble on 3rd class rock terrain.
Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
Sat, May 11, 2024
No Prerequisites
0 participants 1 instructor on waitlist
Registration closes May 9
Foothills Branch
Danielle Graham
Qualified Youth Leader

Rock Scrambling Field Trip - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Scrambling Field trip: Alpine Scrambling Course
Practice techniques for scrambling on 3rd class rock terrain.
Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
Sun, May 12, 2024
No Prerequisites
0 participants 1 instructor on waitlist
Registration closes May 10
Foothills Branch
Karen Wallace

Day Hike - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Day Hiking Trip
After-hours conditioning hike at a moderate pace
Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous
Wed, May 15, 2024
No Prerequisites
8 participants 1 leader
Registration opens May 6
Foothills Branch
Barbara Folmer

Day Hike - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Day Hiking Trip
**Preference given to 2024 Olympia Conditioning Hiking Series participants** Trip will open for registration to
Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
Sun, Jun 2, 2024
No Prerequisites
6 participants 1 leader
Registration opens May 6
Olympia Branch
Mandi Maycumber
Qualified Youth Leader

Intro to Trail Running: Frontcountry - Running on Technical Terrain - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Trail Running Field trip: Introduction to Trail Running: Frontcountry
This field trip will focus on running skills for technical terrain - Running on trails
Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
Wed, Jun 5, 2024
No Prerequisites
4 participants 0 instructors
Registration opens Apr 1; Instructor registration open now
Foothills Branch
Rich Leggett

Intro to Trail Running: Backcountry Field Trip - #2 - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Trail Running Field trip: Introduction to Trail Running: Backcountry
Introduction to fundamental skills.
Difficulty: Moderate
Wed, Jul 3, 2024
No Prerequisites
8 participants 0 instructors
Registration opens Apr 6; Instructor registration open now
Foothills Branch
John Murphy
Qualified Youth Leader

Summer Camp - Nature Lovers Hike - Olympia - Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony

Day Hiking Youth activity: Summer Day Camp - Nature Lovers
A field trip for Nature Lovers Camp
Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
Thu, Jul 4, 2024
No Prerequisites
10 participants
Registration closes Jul 2
Olympia Branch
Claire Edwards
Qualified Youth Leader

Intro to Trail Running: Backcountry Field Trip - #2 - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Trail Running Field trip: Introduction to Trail Running: Backcountry
Introduction to fundamental skills.
Difficulty: Moderate
Sat, Jul 6, 2024
No Prerequisites
6 participants 1 instructor
Registration opens Apr 6; Instructor registration open now
Foothills Branch
Aaron Terrazas

Field Trip - Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony

Youth Youth activity: Wilderness Week
Off-site adventure to hike or rock climb outdoors
Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
Wed, Jul 10, 2024
No Prerequisites
1 participant 6 instructors
Registration closes Jul 8
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt
Qualified Youth Leader

Intro to Trail Running: Backcountry Field Trip - #2 - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Trail Running Field trip: Introduction to Trail Running: Backcountry
Introduction to fundamental skills.
Difficulty: Moderate
Thu, Jul 11, 2024
No Prerequisites
8 participants 0 instructors
Registration opens Apr 6; Instructor registration open now
Foothills Branch
Luis Zuniga

Intro to Trail Running: Backcountry Field Trip - #2 - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Trail Running Field trip: Introduction to Trail Running: Backcountry
Introduction to fundamental skills.
Difficulty: Moderate
Sun, Jul 14, 2024
No Prerequisites
6 participants 1 instructor
Registration opens Apr 6; Instructor registration open now
Foothills Branch
John Murphy
Qualified Youth Leader

August Hikes: 4 miles to 7 miles, 600 to 2,000 feet gain - Dirty Harry's Balcony

Day Hiking Field trip: GoHike: Beginner Hiking Course
This hike may count toward your monthly required GoHike course August hike.
Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
Wed, Aug 21, 2024
No Prerequisites
10 participants 0 instructors
Registration opens Jul 5; Instructor registration open now
Foothills Branch
Erin Vagley
Qualified Youth Leader

Olympia Explorers Hike - Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony

Day Hiking Field trip: Explorers-Olympia
Hiking for the Olympia Explorers
Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
Sat, Oct 19, 2024
No Prerequisites
11 participants
Registration closes Oct 17
Olympia Branch
Claire Edwards
Qualified Youth Leader

TAC MAC Conditioner Series - Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony

Youth Field trip: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
Training hikes and scrambles to get us into shape!
Difficulty: Strenuous
Wed, Feb 12, 2025
No Prerequisites
9 participants 1 instructor 1 chaperone
Registration closes Feb 10
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt
Qualified Youth Leader

Tacoma Explorers Activity - Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony

Youth Youth activity: Tacoma Explorers
Outdoor activity for Tacoma Explorers program
Difficulty: *Varies*, Moderate, Strenuous
Sat, Mar 22, 2025
No Prerequisites
11 participants
Registration closes Mar 20
Tacoma Branch
RyAnn Peverley
Trip Reports
Titles

This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.

  • Dirty Harry's Balcony
  • Dirty Harry's Peak
  • Dirty Harry's Balcony & Peak
  • Dirty Harry's Peak Trail
  • Dirty Harry's Balcony & East Balcony
  • Dirty Harry's Balcony & East Balcony via Putrid Pete's Peak Trail
  • Dirty Harry's Balcony & Palouse to Cascades Trail Loop
Resources

There are no resources for this route/place. Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.