Region

North Cascades

North Lake–Secluded Lake off popular Mountain Loop Highway

August 21, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 6.0 miles High Point: 4,925 feet Elevation gain: 2,250 feet Difficulty: difficult Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway no. 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District Notes: Access road is rough in spots; high clearance recommended Access: From Granite Falls follow the Mountain Loop Highway east for 26 miles. Just…

Image Lake — jewel in the heart of the Glacier Peak Wilderness

August 14, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Glacier Peak Wilderness Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 33.0 miles Elevation Gain: 4,700 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest  Notes: NW Forest or Interagency Pass required; No camping within ¼ mile of Image Lake—use established campsites; no fires at lake; respect re-vegetation…

Fourth of July Pass─Declare your Independence this week in the North Cascades

July 3, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Ross Lake National Recreation Area, North Cascades Scenic Highway (SR20) Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 9.0 miles Elevation Gain: 2,350 feet Green Trails Map: North Cascades Ross Lake 16SX Special Note: Dogs must be leashed. Contact: North Cascades National Park Visitors Center Newhalem Recommended Guidebook: Day Hiking North Cascades 2nd Edition  Access: From Marblemount…

Diablo Lake– Hell of a lake, but not a devil of a hike

June 5, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: North Cascades Highway Land Agency: Ross Lake National Recreation Area Roundtrip: 7.6 miles Elevation Gain: 1400 feet Contact:  North Cascades National Park  Detailed Information: Day Hiking North Cascades 2nd edition (Mountaineers Books) Notes: Dogs must be leashed. Access road gated at 4:15 pm during winter Access: From Marblemount follow SR 20 east for 21.5 miles.…

Boulder River- waterfalls among old-growth forest

May 29, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Boulder River Wilderness, near Darrington Land Agency: National Forest Service Round trip: 8.6 miles Elevation Gain: 750 feet Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Access: From Arlington follow SR 530 for 20 miles. Just beyond Milepost 41 near a subdivision turn right onto FR 2010 and continue for 3.7 miles to trailhead. Contact:…

Ashland Lakes

May 15, 2025 |

Old growth forest serenity Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 5.5 miles Elevation Gain: 800 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway no. 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker- Snoqualmie National Forest  Access: From Granite Falls follow the Mountain Loop Highway east to the Verlot Visitors Center. Proceed for…

Old Sauk River Trail– Stroll along a Wild and Scenic River

April 24, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Darrington, Land Agency: Mount Baker -Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 6.0 miles Elevation gain: 150 feet Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker -Snoqualmie National Forest  Notes: Northwest Forest or Interagency Pass required Access: Take Exit 208 off of I-5 following SR 530…

Fortson Ponds –An old mill site on an emerging long distance trail

February 6, 2025 |

Quick Facts: Location: Darrington Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.0 miles Elevation gain: none Difficulty: Easy Contact: Snohomish County Parks  Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Notes: Dogs allowed on leash Access: From Exit 208 on I-5 (Arlington) travel east on SR 530 for 25.2 miles turning left onto Fortson Mill Road (near…

Robe Canyon─Follow a silenced railroad into a thundering chasm

November 14, 2024 |

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls Land Agency: Snohomish County Parks Roundtrip: 2.4 miles Elevation Gain: 300 feet Green trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Access: From Granite Falls follow the Mountain Loop Highway east for 7.0 miles to trailhead located on your right, directly across from Forest Road 41. Park on…

Barlow Point–Little known lookout site on Mountain Loop Highway

November 7, 2024 |

Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 2.5 miles High Point: 3,222 feet Elevation gain: 850 feet Difficulty: moderate Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest  Note: Northwest Forest Pass or Inter-agency Pass required Access: From Granite Falls, follow…

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