Tonga Ridge

Tonga Ridge makes a wonderful early winter snowshoe excursion. Photo by Opus.

Hike of the Week:

November 19, 2007

Location: Off of Hwy 2 near the town of Skykomish

Distance: 6 miles roundtrip

Elevation: 500 feet elevation gain to 4800 feet at Sawyer Pass

Maps: Green Trails Skykomish No. 175 & Stevens Pass No. 176

Why Go?
Because you haven't been there in at least a year!  The Tonga Ridge Road just reopened in October after being closed for 11 months following the devastating winter storm last November.  Now you have a short window of opportunity to enjoy this wonderful trail before snow closes the road again until next spring.

The Tonga Ridge trailhead (elev. 4300 feet) is usually accessible to vehicles (especially high clearance 4-wheel drives) until the end of November - or until the first big mountain snow.  After this point, the road will be snowed in and turned over to snowmobiles and skis.  

What's great about hiking this popular trail now is that while the crowds have vanished and the bugs are gone, the views are as spectacular as ever.  Maybe even more so, with snow blanketing everything around.  Go on a clear day to maximize this dose of alpine elixir.

By mid to late November, you'll likely need to bring your snowshoes to experience the pleasures of Tonga Ridge.  After climbing 500 feet over the first mile, the trail emerges from the forest to provide views to the south, and runs along Tonga Ridge, peaking in elevation at Sawyer Pass, a lovely lunch spot and turnaround point. 

For more information:  Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, Skykomish Ranger District, (360) 677-2414.  Guidebook: 55 Hikes around Stevens Pass, Wild Sky Country, by Rick McGuire and Ira Spring The Mountaineers Books).  Read our Hiking Guide entry and Trip Reports.

Directions:  From Monroe, drive east on highway 2. About .5 mile past the Ranger Station in Skykomish, turn south (right) on Foss River Road (#68). In 3.5 miles, turn (veer) left on Tonga Ridge Road (#6830). Follow this road about 6.9 miles and veer right on the unmarked #310. (Do not take the first road on the right at 6 miles.) Drive to the end, about 1 mile.