Mount Bwahit is the second highest peak in Ethiopia at 4,430 metres, rising above the Chennek area and offering a demanding but achievable alternative to the longer Ras Dashen ascent. From Chennek camp, the hike to Bwahit takes about four to five hours return — a steep climb through high-altitude moorland to the rocky summit ridge. The views from the top are comparable to Ras Dashen's: a vast highland panorama with the escarpment walls dropping away below.
Bwahit is increasingly popular as a "training altitude" ascent before attempting Ras Dashen — spending a day climbing to 4,430 metres and descending back to Chennek allows the body to adjust before the higher summit attempt the following day. The terrain on the upper slopes is loose volcanic rock and the trail is less defined than on the lower escarpment routes; a guide is essential, both for route-finding and for the park rules that require guide accompaniment.