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Quick Facts

Location: Mountain Loop Highway

Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Roundtrip: 4.0 miles

Elevation Gain: 100 feet

Green Trails Map: Green Trails, Sloan Peak, WA- no. 111

Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (360) 436-1155; www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/

Access: From Darrington, follow Mountain Loop Highway for 9.0 miles to trailhead (located on right just after crossing Sauk River).

Notes: Northwest Forest Pass required.

Enjoy an easy family-friendly near-level hike along the Wild and Scenic Sauk River to a series of beaver ponds. The way follows an old logging railroad grade still harboring old ties and trestle remains. En route you’ll pass through a grove of ancient cedars left by the early loggers. The Beaver Lake Trail is a birdwatchers delight, providing ample opportunities to scan the river and surrounding wetlands for eagles, dippers, mergansers and kingfishers.

Start from just above the confluence of the Sauk and White Chuck Rivers. The way dips slightly from the parking lot onto the old logging railway grade. Rotting trestles can be seen just to the right. On a near straight-away the trail cuts through a thick stand of second growth hemlocks and a tunnel of alders. After about a half mile the way swings left onto a high bank. Here enjoy a good view out to Mount Pugh and the Monte Cristo Peaks while the Sauk River churns and roars below.

The mighty river continuously pounds the gravel-layered riverbank causing portions of the shoreline hugging trail to slump. Storms in 2006 took out sections of the trail here, but volunteer work crews from the Washington Trails Association recently repaired the damaged tread. Pick up the old rail grade again and pass through skunk-cabbage patches before coming to a delightful bridge crossing Beaver Lake. Okay, it’s more of a pond than a lake—an old slough actually. Check out the bridge more carefully inspecting its span built upon some of the original railroad trestles. Pause to look and listen for bird activity. Any beavers?

Beyond Beaver Lake the trail traverses an impressive old-growth cedar grove. The trees are remarkable in size and girth, but also in the fact that they were spared the axe. The trail continues for a short way beyond terminating at an impassible washout along the Sauk River. Enjoy this sunny (when it’s out) spot before retracing your steps on this delightful trail.

For information on lodging and other attractions near Beaver Lake, visit www.snohomish.org.