From the junction with US Highway 2 at Coles Corner, drive northward along State Highway 207 for 6.1 kilometres and turn right onto Beaver Valley Road.  Drive 7.1 kilometres and turn right onto River Road (this junction can also be reached from Leavenworth via Chumstick Highway).  Drive southward for 2.7 kilometres and turn right onto an unsigned forestry road (NF-6601; 2WD gravel) going across a power line right-of-way.  Drive 1.4 kilometres to a split with a wide pullout (good place to random camp or practice target shooting).  Keep left and, ignoring all side roads, drive another 2.5 kilometres to a junction with a rutted ATV road (NF-710) branching to the left.  Park here (47.76036, -120.69755) without blocking either road.

From where we parked, Zosia and I walked westward along the ATV road which eventually bends southward and intersects another forestry road (NF-810) underneath a power line.  Turning right, we followed NF-810 westward and took a steep short cut along the power line right-of-way to gain the crest of Natapoc Mountain's north ridge.  We then turned left (south) and climbed up the north ridge on a well-defined trail.  This trail--possibly meant for dirt biking--is surprisingly steep, and the steepness is sustained nearly all the way to the viewless north summit.  From the north summit, we continued southward on a good trail and dropped into a short dip before climbing up to the equally viewless south (true) summit.  We wandered a little further beyond the south summit in search of some reported viewpoints but did not find anything mind-blowing.  By then, smoke from a big wildfire somewhere north or east of us was rolling into the area, and visibility became murky at best.  We stopped and took a short break anyway to eat some of the food we dragged up with us.

For our return, Zosia and I retraced our steps back over the south and north summits, down the steep short cut, and out the same forestry/ATV roads.  Descending the short cut and parts of the north ridge required some caution due to the slippery footing, but we managed both without a spill.  The incoming smoke also did little to suppress the rising heat from the sun, and we would later endure even hotter temperatures as we drove out of the North Cascades into central Washington.

	Zosia begins hiking along an ATV road branching off from the main access road.
	Zosia hikes along a power line right-of-way.
	Although it is possible to follow the road up to the ridge crest, Zosia decides to take a steep short cut.
	On the ridge crest, Zosia observes wildfire smoke drifting into the area from the east.
	A break in the forest along Natapoc Mountain's north ridge grants this view to the west.
	Right of centre on the northwest horizon is snowy Glacier Peak.
	Zosia grinds her way up a very steep trail on the north ridge.
	Zosia stands on the north summit (1283 metres) of Natapoc Mountain.
	Sonny drops down the south side of the north summit. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	The trail between the two summits of Natapoc Mountain passes under this rather crazy-looking tree.
	Sonny takes a GPS reading on the south (true) summit (1287 metres) of Natapoc Mountain. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia and Sonny pose at a semi-open viewpoint a short distance below the south summit.  The view to the south includes Tumwater Mountain (left) which is nearly obscured by incoming smoke.
	Sonny descends a very steep and dusty section of the trail on the north ridge. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia drops back down the same short cut she took earlier along the power line right-of-way.  Despite the smoke, the top of Natapoc Mountain is still visible at right.
	Total Distance:  10.3 kilometres Round-Trip Time:  4 hours 48 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain:  497 metres GPX Data