This is one of Ketchikan’s most popular adventure hikes. The trail up Deer Mountain is wide and clear, but rocky, steep and slick when wet. The trail along the ridge from Deer to Roy Jones and Northbird is well-marked but covered by snow in a few spots. Dropping into the steep neck between Northbird and the spur to John features a few ropes that makes the climb/descent more comfortable since the footing is poor and slick.
Deer Mountain. Downtown Ketchikan below.
First two and change miles out of the way, now for the up and down hiking along the ridge toward Roy Jones.
Approaching Blue Lake, two miles from Deer. Roy Jones rising in the left of the frame.
Blue Lake. Twin Peaks and Achilles in the right of the frame on the other side of a steep valley.
Camp on a flat spot near the top of Roy Jones. Northbird in the background.
Summit of Northbird, Mahoney in the distance. Trail cuts to the right to descend down to the Silvas Lakes.
Northeast side of Northbird. Snow patch covered the trail in two sections. Slick and steep, but not very dangerous.
Headed to the cut in the ridge where the ropes are. Mahoney on the right, John on the left.
Looking back at Northbird.
Twin Peaks. Achilles rising on the right. The trail becomes exceptionally easy to walk during the descent which is why most people choose this direction rather than Silvas to Deer. The last 2.5 miles is on the gravel service road for the hydroelectric plant between Upper and Lower Silvas lakes.
