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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Johnson Ridge–Ridgeline hike in the Wild Sky Wilderness

Location: Beckler River near Skykomish Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 9.0 miles High Point: 5,540 feet Elevation gain: 2,650 feet Difficulty: difficult Green Trails Maps: Alpine Lakes West Stevens Pass No. 176S Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest  Access: From Everett head east on US 2 for 50 miles turning left onto…

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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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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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White River–Low country snowshoe adventure within the shadow of Mount Rainier

Location: White River Valley Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip:  up to 10.0 miles Elevation gain: 700 feet Green Trails Map: Greenwater No. 238 Contact: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: Northwest Forest Pass; Parking can be a challenge when snowfall is heavy along roads. Do not park on road shoulders, or block access to substation…

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Dalles Ridge — Wintering Elk and Sublime Alpine views

Quick Facts: Location: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Land Agency: US Forest Service Round Trip: 8.2 miles Elevation Gain: 1900 feet Green Trails Map: Greenwater no. 238 Contact: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Notes: During periods of low snow levels, parking may be difficult. Access: From Enumclaw follow SR 410 for 13.6 miles turning left (shortly after passing…

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Pinnacle Lake — Pretty little lake perched on a shoulder of Mount Pilchuck

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway, near Granite Falls Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest; Washington State Parks Roundtrip: 4.2 miles Elevation gain: 1,100 feet Green Trails Maps:  Mountain Loop Highway 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest   Notes: access road is rough, high clearance vehicles recommended. Access: From Granite Falls follow the…

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Twin Lakes (Monte Cristo) — Follow a rugged old miner’s path to a remote basin

Quick Facts: Location: Mountain Loop Highway near Barlow Pass Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Roundtrip: 17.0 miles Elevation gain: 3,900 feet Green Trails Map: Mountain Loop Highway  no. 111SX Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest   Notes: Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass required; A washout at the Twin Bridges requires…

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