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Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books Mailbox Peak
Wimpy hikers, turn the page. This trail offers nothing for you but pain and heartbreak. If you think you've got the goods to scramble up more than 1000 feet per mile, read on. Mailbox Peak brings a serious burn to the thighs of even the best-conditioned athletes, but the rewards make it all worthwhile. From the top of this jutting lump of rock, you'll enjoy spectacular views of the lower Snoqualmie River valleys. The entire Issaquah Alps range sprawls at your feet, with the rocky-topped Mount Si directly across the Middle Fork Valley and the sheer wall of Rattlesnake Ledge just across the South Fork Valley. After soaking in the views, pull the summit register out and leave your signature--you'll find the tattered pages of a notebook in an old metal mailbox wedged above the summit rocks.
Start hiking by rounding the gate and walking up the road (avoiding all side roads). At around 0.5 mile from your car, watch for a sign on the left marking the Mailbox Peak Trail. This trail is rough-hewn, since it was built by boots and only recently received any real trail work--and that done mostly by ad hoc volunteers. The trail leaves the road and turns near vertical, climbing ever-more steeply over the next 2.5 miles--the first 0.5 mile of road walking gains only a few hundred feet of elevation, leaving about 3800 feet for the last 2.5 miles. That means you'll be climbing about 1500 feet per mile, and most hikers consider anything over 1000 feet per mile to be steep! The first mile of climbing makes use of a few switchbacks--though a few more would moderate the pitch more reasonably. From there on, turns and twists become fewer and farther between. The trail climbs with ruthless focus--to get to the top in as direct a line as possible. As you move above 4000 feet, the forest falls away, the views open, and all pretense of switchbacks disappears. You'll now be scrambling up steep, open hillsides. An old forest fire scoured the slope here, removing the tree cover but making space for a wonderful mix of heather, beargrass, and dense huckleberry thickets. Finally, after one last scramble through the rocky crown around the summit, you're there, standing beside the battered mailbox on the top of Mailbox Peak. After you catch your breath, pat yourself on the back--because if you're on the summit, you've conquered per-haps the most difficult hike in this book!
Driving Directions:
From Seattle, drive east on I-90 to exit 34 (Edgewick Road). Turn left (north) onto 468th Street and follow it to the junction with the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road (Forest Road 56). Turn right and continue up the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road to the end of the pavement (about 3 miles from the I-90 exit). Turn right onto a gated road and park, being sure not to block the gate. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Issues:
Mudholes | Snow on trail
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Climbed Mailbox this morning. I arrived at the completely empty Parking lot at 6:15am, got to the t...
Climbed Mailbox this morning. I arrived at the completely empty Parking lot at 6:15am, got to the top at 8:10, back to car 9:45am. I saw no one going up, but I saw 14 people, and 3 dogs coming down.
The trail is in pretty good shape. There are a few (less than 10) mud holes on the trail at various spots. Some near the trailhead, and a few higher up. All of them are easy to step over or around. There was no snow on the trail below the breakout at 4000 feet. The summer route that climbs from 4000 feet to 4300 feet is still buried in snow. I had to do the winter section (straight up the rocks) through this area. There is also a snow patch to the left of the rocks that was climbable this morning. It was hard crusted and easy to create steps. I took the snow patch part of the way around the snow bound summer route. Above 4300 to the top the summer route is clear of snow. There is some snow at the top, but the Mailbox and sun porch are clear of snow.
Mailbox Peak
— May 24, 2012
— ciroque
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Water on trail | Snow on trail | No water source
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Did someone mention that this trail is steep?
We arrived at the trailhead just after 9am and were...
Did someone mention that this trail is steep?
We arrived at the trailhead just after 9am and were on the trail shortly thereafter. My hiking companions made the summit about quarter-to-twelve with me joining them about twenty minutes later. It was a mostly cloudy day, but there were magnificent views around 4000' looking back west and south. A few hundred feet below the summit we had the choice of a scramble, or a snow field. My companions started on the snow but made their way over to the rocks as the snow was pretty well frozen. I opted for the rocks all the way up. On the summit we signed the box and the register, threw some groceries down our throats and enjoyed the snow flurries that were swirling around. Not too much to see other than the inside of the cloud we were in, but still a great feeling of accomplishment. It took us around two hours to descend, opting for the snow this time (we post-holed through to the underlying rocks a couple of times, resulting in scraped shins, so do be careful as the snow will be getting more unstable). There was plenty of mud and some standing water on the trail from the recent rains, and the roots were very slippery. Very glad to have this peak in the bag though. It was my first venture in the Cascades (I'm an Olympics person to date). As far as equipment, the only thing I wish I had brought were my poles, they would have been great on the descent. Other than that, we went pretty light; water and snacks. Enjoy! We sure did! Day hike
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With a cool and cloudless day in the forecast, today was the day to mark another trail off my bucket...
With a cool and cloudless day in the forecast, today was the day to mark another trail off my bucket list. That trail being MailBox Peak. I arrived at the trailhead at 8:00 in the morning only to find it already full from others who had the same idea.
Everything I heard about this trail was true, including the view from the top being worth the price you pay getting there. I took my time, taking several breaks on the way up. Pleasant greetings were exchanged with each and every person I met on the trail, making it one of my more enjoyable hikes. I reach the clearing at 4000ft around 11:00. Enjoyed the view and then used the steps of others to help me climb up the easier route through the snow field. Once above the snow, with the goal (the MailBox) in sight, I took a series of breaks while climbing the last few hundred feet to the top. I arrived at the MailBox (~4850ft) around noon. On top, I was rewarded with a fantastic view. The Mailbox is set at one of the highest spots in the area, so you get a 360 degree view from there. I ate lunch with several other fellow hikers, as well as a local resident, a chipmunk. I stayed on top for about a half hour and then started the long trip back down. Although I had brought my hiking boots with me, I left them in the car, choosing to make the hike in my lighter tennis shoes. I had no problems. My only advice, is get to the trailhead early, bring lots of water and take your time. Even though this hike is listed at 2.5 miles, it’s a marathon and not a sprint. Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Snow on trail | No water source
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Love checking off new hikes and this has been on the list for awhile. Left the Parking lot at 9:15am...
Love checking off new hikes and this has been on the list for awhile. Left the Parking lot at 9:15am and thought "This hike isn't that tough its way overrated." Famous last words. After the easy going fist 3/4's of a mile its up up up and then some more up. You will sweat and your legs will burn and like me you may curse yourself for the weight in your pack (a mere 30 lbs which ended up feeling like 60). As you scramble along the trail trying to keep your footing among the gnarled exposed roots and boulders just remember its ONLY 2.5 miles (the longest 2.5 of your hiking career I'm sure). Eventually you clear the trees and are faced with a decision, lil' snowfield or lil' boulder field, (Snow is easier) after you reach the top of which ever path you choose you'll find the trail again and the summit is almost within sight. At last you see the object of your desire,a mailbox covered in the graffiti of past hikers who, like you, were up for the challenge of one of the toughest hikes in the Cascades. Congratulations!!
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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I got the trailhead at 5:45am this morning. No other cars were there. I headed straight up the tra...
I got the trailhead at 5:45am this morning. No other cars were there. I headed straight up the trail. The trail is in great condition after the past few days of warm weather. There was no mud to speak of. There is still snow above the 4000' level, but most of it is off of the trail. The summer section at the top of the breakout is still covered. So when you get to the breakout head up the winter route (straight for the top). There was a small section of snow, then a section of rocks. Then a long section of snow up to about 4300'. This section is steep, but has a lot of boot tracks to follow. This morning it was still crunchy and I did not need my micro spikes. From 4300' to the top the summer section is completely uncovered. There is snow off to the left (as you are going up) that is still quite deep, but it is completely avoidable.
One word of caution. There is a steep slide down the snowfield next to the snow steps, it is very steep and ends in the trees with rocks. I didn't have my ice ax so I didn't try it. It looks like you could get going very fast down that if you weren’t too careful. Best not to try that unless your evac insurance is paid up. So I reached the top at 7:50am and I did not see a single person on the way up. On the way down I counted 72 people and 5 dogs. The parking lot was packed when I got there at 9:20am |
 The Mailbox at the summit by Jesse Wise
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