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

Quick Facts: Location: Ross Lake NRA, North Cascades Scenic Highway Land Agency: National Park Service Roundtrip: 10.6 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 follow the North…

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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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Mount Dickerman–arduous climb to sweeping alpine views

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 8.6 miles High Point: 5,723 feet Elevation gain: 3,900 feet Difficulty: difficult Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway No. 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Northwest Forest Pass required Access: From Granite Falls follow…

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Skyline Divide — A mile high carpet of wildflowers

Quick Facts: Location: Mount Baker Highway, North Cascades Land Agency: National Forest Service Roundtrip: 9.0 miles Elevation gain: 2500 feet Difficulty: moderate Green Trails Map: Mount Baker Wilderness 13S Contact: Mount Baker Ranger District: Mount Baker -Snoqualmie National Forest Access: From Bellingham follow SR 542 (Mount Baker Highway) east for 35 miles turning right onto…

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North Fork Sauk River — Walk among ancient giants

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 11.6 miles Elevation gain: 900 feet Green Trails Maps: Mountain Loop Highway Map 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Guidebook Resource: Day Hiking North Cascades (Mountaineers Books) Notes: NW Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required Access: From Darrington,…

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