Blue Lake and Johnson Mountain–divine ridge walking

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Darrington Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 28.3 miles Elevation Gain: 6,725 feet Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Recommended Guidebook: Backpacking Washington (Romano; Mountaineers Books) Access: From Darrington, head south on the Mountain Loop Highway 16.0 miles turning left onto FR 49. Follow for 6.4 miles bearing…

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Sulphur Mountain –Savor Sweet Suiattle Valley Views

Quick Facts: Location: Suiattle River Road Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 10.0 miles Elevation gain: 4,600 feet Green Trails Maps:  Mountain Loop Highway Map 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest  Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or interagency pass required Access: From Darrington, travel north on SR 530 for 7.5 miles turning…

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Meadow Lake- serene subalpine lake above the Suiattle and White Chuck rivers

Quick Facts: Location: White Chuck River Valley, Mountain Loop Highway Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Service Roundtrip: 16.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2,900 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Access: Take Exit 208 off of I-5 following SR 530 east for 32 miles to Darrington. Then head south on the Mountain Loop Highway proceeding 9.0…

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Tiffany Mountain — Enjoy horizon-spanning views at the edge of the North Cascades

Quick Facts: Location: Northeastern Cascades Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Roundtrip: 5.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1,700 feet Green Trails Map: Green Trails, Tiffany Mountain, WA- No. 53 Contact: Tonasket Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National ForestAccess: From Burlington follow SR 20 east to Winthrop. Then continue north on East Chewuch River Road for 6.5 miles and turn right onto FR…

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Downey Creek — portal to famous Ptarmigan Traverse

Quick Facts: Location: Suiattle River Road Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 13.6 miles Elevation gain: 1500 feet Green Trails Maps:  Mountain Loop Highway Map 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or interagency pass required Access: From Darrington travel north on SR 530 for 7.5 miles turning…

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Driveway Butte– Give your calves a workout hiking this steep old cattle drive

Quick Facts: Location: Methow Valley Land Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Round Trip: 8.6 miles Elevation Gain: 3000 feet Contact: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Green Trails Map: Green Trails Washington Pass No. 50 Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking North Cascades 2nd Edition Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required Access: From Marblemount follow State Route 20 east…

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Patterson Mountain — Bitterroot and Balsamroot and a bevy of other blossoms  

Quick Facts: Location: Methow Valley Land Agency: WA Department of Natural Resources Roundtrip: 3.7 miles Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet Contact: WA Department of Natural Resources Green Trails Map: Sun Mountain, WA- No.83S Notes: Discover Pass Required Access:  From Winthrop head east on SR 20 for .6 mile immediately turning right onto Twin lakes Road. Follow for 3.0 miles turning right…

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Kelcema Lake-Satisfying snowshoe trip to ancient forest flanked subalpine lake

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip:  9.6 miles Elevation gain: 1,600 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Access: From Granite Falls, follow the Mountain Loop Highway east for 23.5 miles to Deer Creek Parking…

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Cutthroat Lakes– Hike to a set of beautiful tarns beneath Bald Mountain

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest; Washington Department of Natural Resources Roundtrip: 6.0 miles Elevation gain: 1,700 feet Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Recommended Resource: Day Hiking North Cascades (Romano; Mountaineers Books) Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest   Notes: access road is narrow and parking is limited.…

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Sunrise Lake─Golden larches brighten the shores of this alpine lake

Quick Facts: Location: North Cascades – Sawtooth Ridge Land Agency: U.S. Forest Service Roundtrip: 13.0 miles Elevation Gain: 3,730 feet Green Trails Map: Prince Creek, WA- No. 115 Recommended Resource: Day Hiking North Cascades (Romano; Mountaineers Books) Access: From Twisp drive SR 20 east for 2.0 miles. Continue south on SR 153 for 12.0 miles turning right…

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