Darrington, Washington

Top Spots in and near Darrington

  • Arlington, Washington

    Three Fingers Lookout

    4.5
    14.31 mi / 4357 ft gain
    Approximately 11 miles east of Granite Falls, WA, on the Mt. Loop Highway,  turn onto Forest Service road 41 and follow this road for 18.0 miles to the trailhead. The road is quite rough and it is recommended you have a four-wheel drive vehicle. There is a washout about halfway along the road, an...
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  • Arlington, Washington

    Boulder River Trail

    4.3
    8.12 mi / 1424 ft gain
    Boulder River is a great outing for those days when you feel like you just need a good hike through the forest. This makes for a nice long day hike, but because both of the large waterfalls are within the first half of the trail, you can still see the falls without going the whole way. One of the...
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    North Lake via Independence Lake

    5.56 mi / 2431 ft gain
    North Lake is everything you could want in a subalpine lake: emerald green hues, cold, clear water, lots of brook trout and far from cell-phone reception. This backpack is perfect when the weather gets hot and sunny, though it does reside in what is known as “the wettest section of the Cascades,...
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  • Darrington, Washington

    Scramble Mount Pugh

    5.0
    11 mi / 5300 ft gain
    Not for the faint of heart - or those with a fear of heights - Mount Pugh offers some of the most rewarding summit views in the Cascades.Located off the northern end of the Mountain Loop Highway, this is an easy day trip from anywhere in the Puget Sound area. Though finding the trailhead can be t...
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    Dispersed Camp near Beaver Creek Group Camp, Mt. Baker Snoqualmie NF

    This campsite is located along the Mountain  Loop Highway. There are various options for dispersed camping around the area, as well as some you can reserve ahead of time such as the Coal Creek Campground and the Beaver Creek Group Campground. This campsite is located just before Beaver Creek grou...
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    Big Four Ice Caves

    4.3
    2.38 mi / 289 ft gain
    Disclaimer: Hiking into the caves is extremely dangerous as there is potential for the ice to fall. We do not recommend hiking inside of them and if you choose to do so, you're doing it at your own risk. This is a short hike at just 2.3 miles roundtrip with little elevation change. The hike take...
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    Snowshoe to Coal Lake

    13 mi / 1600 ft gain
    https://www.theoutbound.com/wa...Starting out at the Deer Creek gate of Mountain Loop Highway the road is flat and uneventful for the first 2 miles or so, though it does offer some great views of the Big Four as well as a few other peaks and the babbling south fork of the Stillaguamish river. The...
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    Lake 22

    4.6
    5.98 mi / 1434 ft gain
    If you're looking for a taste of the Mountain Loop Highway area, but don't have it in you for a longer, steeper journey, look no further than Lake 22. The trail starts out as flat and well-maintained, from the parking lot, before becoming a true mountain rainforest trail. Water and dampness are f...
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    Heather Lake Trail

    4.3
    4.33 mi / 1165 ft gain
    The trail takes you on a gradual climb up to Heather Lake with beautiful second growth to admire along the way. The trail can be very wet and muddy with many tree roots to catch your toes, so make sure to wear a sturdy pair of tennis shoes or hiking shoes. Dogs are permitted on this trail on-leas...
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    Hike to Perry Creek Falls & Mount Forgotten Meadows

    11.5 mi / 3700 ft gain
    Most visitors park at this trailhead to hike Dickerman Mountain.  Until this spring, so did I.  However, don't overlook this stunning valley hike to Perry Creek, Mount Forgotten Meadows, and the scramble up Mount Forgotten!Begin this hike on the Perry Creek trail, which begins on the far left sid...
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    Mt. Dickerman Summit

    7.93 mi / 3675 ft gain
    In general, this is a strenuous hike or snowshoe at approximately 8 miles round trip with nearly 4000 elevation gain. Be aware of current snow conditions and avalanche risk if heading up in the winter. Do not attempt a winter trip without proper knowledge, skill, and gear. Some previous winter tr...
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    Old Robe Canyon Trail

    3.69 mi / 771 ft gain
    NOTE: The trail is currently closed about 1 mile in due to landslides.  This trail starts right off the Mountain Loop Highway outside of Granite Falls. Look out for a brick sign with the trail name, as it's easy to miss otherwise. There's parking next to the highway, but since there is a history...
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    Cutthroat Lakes via Walt Bailey Trail

    4.0
    6.21 mi / 1978 ft gain
    Along the Mountain Loop Highway, past the crowds crawling over Mt. Pilchuck, lies the muddy, unkempt Walt Bailey Trail into a verdant subalpine basin speckled with tiny tarns. The Cutthroat Lakes are a delightful location to spend the night with optional day hikes up to exposed ridgelines and cra...
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  • Granite Falls, Washington

    Mount Pilchuck Lookout

    4.8
    5.22 mi / 2113 ft gain
    Hike the well-maintained Mount Pilchuck Lookout trail through a variety of terrain: old-growth forest and granite boulder fields. At the top, you'll reach a lookout tower perched on Mount Pilchuck. Pilchuck sits on the western edge of the Cascades, which offers up amazing panoramic views once you...
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  • Darrington, Washington

    Camp at Goat Lake

    4.3
    10.4 mi / 1400 ft gain
    If you just loved your day hike to Goat Lake so much that you want to return and spend some more time, you're in luck - the lake offers a camping area that holds at least 15 campsites and even comes with a pit latrine. This is a great overnight option if you aren't looking for a difficult hike in...
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  • Darrington, Washington

    Winter Hike to Goat Lake

    4.0
    10.4 mi / 1400 ft gain
    This trail is a perfect winter hike for the average outdoorsmen. Be warned that the most difficult part of this hike is getting to the trailhead in winter. The Mountain-loop highway can be a dangerous drive with black ice, snow, and serious potholes along the way. Take proper precautions like cha...
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Camping and Lodging in Darrington

Clear Creek Campground
Darrington, Washington

Clear Creek Campground

Coal Creek Group Camp
Granite Falls, Washington

Coal Creek Group Camp

Tulalip Group Camp
Granite Falls, Washington

Tulalip Group Camp

Red Bridge Campground
Granite Falls, Washington

Red Bridge Campground

Boardman Group Camp
Granite Falls, Washington

Boardman Group Camp

Esswine Group Camp
Granite Falls, Washington

Esswine Group Camp

Guides, Insights and Stories from Darrington

Climbing Glacier Peak

Climbing Glacier Peak

Karra Russell

Join Us for a National Parks Benefit Concert at Seattle's Benaroya Hall

Join Us for a National Parks Benefit Concert at Seattle's Benaroya Hall

Rose Freeman

Searching for Serenity on the Hike to Lake Serene

Searching for Serenity on the Hike to Lake Serene

Andrew Hoang

Dare to Challenge Winter in the Mount Baker Backcountry and the Payoffs Can Be Monumental

Dare to Challenge Winter in the Mount Baker Backcountry and the Payoffs Can Be Monumental

Randy Gordon

Scott Kranz is Climbing 50 Peaks in North Cascades NP in One Year

Scott Kranz is Climbing 50 Peaks in North Cascades NP in One Year

The Outbound Collective

The Top 10 Hikes in the North Cascades

The Top 10 Hikes in the North Cascades

Michael Fricke