Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Mount Pilchuck
Featured In:
Day Hiking: North Cascades,
by Craig Romano.
A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails. While not an overly difficult hike, scores of hikers each year end up injuring themselves or worse on this little mountain each season. Why? Its easy accessibility and proximity to the Greater Pugetopolis make it an attractive destination for ill-prepared neophytes. Snow often lingers late, making an easy hike in August potentially dangerous in June. And while the distance isn't great, parts of the trail are rocky, muddy, and slippery-not a problem for experienced hikers, but potentially troublesome for others. The hike starts on what was once a service road to ski slopes on the mountain. Skirt the base of the rapidly growing-in former ski area, entering mature forest of hemlock and yellow cedar. Hop across a small creek, and at 0.25 mile enter Mount Pilchuck State Park. Much of the mountain, as well as Pinnacle Lake, are contained within a 1900-acre Washington State Parks property. The trail is jointly managed with the U.S. Forest Service. And thanks to the Washington Trails Association and its volunteers, a good portion of it has been recently reconstructed and reinforced with solid cribbing and steps. At 0.7 mile briefly pass through a scree slope that offers a small scenic taste of what lies ahead. The trail rounds the mountain's northwest shoulder, breaks out into heather and granite gardens, and then ratchets up the climbing. The rocky summit comes into view-and so do scores of other summits. The way angles for a 4700-foot saddle between the summit and Little Pilchuck and then wraps around the mountain's south side. After a scenic traverse along the summit ridge, the trail heads back toward the summit block, ending with a boulder scramble for the final 100 feet to the attractive restored lookout. You can easily while away time in the lookout, a virtual museum with its many historical exhibits. But no doubt the outside attraction-one of the finest views in the Cascades-has captured your attention. Peer north to Three Fingers, Baker, Shuksan, and the Stillaguamish Valley and east to Glacier, Big Four, Dickerman, Index, and the Spada Reservoir. Rainier dominates the southern sky. On the western front, it's Seattle, Everett, and Puget Sound with its myriad islands and inlets, all capped off by the Olympic Mountains. What a view!
Driving Directions:
From Granite Falls follow the Mountain Loop Highway east. One mile beyond the Verlot Public Service Center, turn right onto graveled Forest Road 42 immediately after crossing the "Blue Bridge." Drive 7 miles to the trailhead at the road end (elev. 3100 ft). Privy available. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
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Road to trailhead inaccessible
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As some of you may have been aware, the US Forest Service this summer, placed a new
gate just below mile...
As some of you may have been aware, the US Forest Service this summer, placed a new
gate just below mile post 5 on the 42 Road/Mount Pilchuck Road for the purpose of affording the recreational public more convenience in getting to the Mount Pilchuck Trailhead in the early spring and late fall/early winter during periods of time when the driving conditions were deemed to be EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS or at times when the road below the new gate was snow-free, but the road conditions or the fact that the spring snows had not yet melted out to the point beyond the gate that would afford "SAFE ACCESS" to vehicles in areas beyond that point. Just a day or two prior to the new year,someone took it upon themselves to cut the FS lock off the Upper Pilchuck Gate and then repeatedly ramming it so as to bow the new metal gate to the point that it no longer could be locked. As usual it has taken "ONE" to spoil it for the "ALL". The upper gate at this time could not be repaired, so it was closed as best as possible and has had boulders piled in front of it to insure that this spring, before snows have adequately melted out behind it to allow safe access (the initial intended purpose of the gate)that it will not be breached. The Lower Pilchuck Gate just above the Heather Lake Gate has also been closed and bouldered as was required after it too was repeatedly breached last year. Sorry for the inconvenience, but the Forest Service must take appropriate steps to insure the longevity of it's property,manage and safegard the National Forest's natural resources, and insure the public's safety. As of January 4,2012 the December 31 to April 2, the Annual Closure Order is in effect for "ALL MOTORIZED VEHICLES" (Including snowmobiles)on the 4200 Road System above the Heather Lake Gate. TRAVEL BY FOOT IS STILL PERMITTED!!! The gate MAY be opened earlier or later in the spring as weather and/or snow conditions allow and/or dictate. Safe Travels this winter! Snohomish County Sheriff Office's Forest Protection Deputy Snowshoe/XC Ski
Issues:
Water on trail | Snow on trail | Avalanche danger
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Gate was open on this day but had to park 4WD about half mile from trail head because of deep...
Gate was open on this day but had to park 4WD about half mile from trail head because of deep tire ruts in snow. Trail is mostly compact snow until about the last mile. Combination of snowshoe and cramp-ons to the top. Hard crust on the South and West slopes. No tracks to follow this day so glad I had my GPS. Took the West/South approach because the North side made me nervous with the steep slopes and low visibility. Weather up top was blowing ice/snow. No view. I agree with previous post, new snow is going to make this area dangerous in the coming weeks..... Someone followed me up and left orange survey tape on their way down, maybe search and rescue? Whomever, thanks for having my back :)
Mount Pilchuck
— Dec 23, 2011
— LoneArcher
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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There is a new gate on road up, about were the pavement starts just before mile post five. It's about...
There is a new gate on road up, about were the pavement starts just before mile post five. It's about two miles hike up to trail head. Last year it was closed at heather lake trail. I do not know if that one will be closed this year. If it is it will make it about five miles to trail head.
Trail is mostly compact snow. But icy in any open area. Some type of traction would be helpful. About two miles you come to the granite rock open side of hike and trail does not follow summer trail. But general direction is good. For us the tracks went more direct up top. And we approached lookout on north side. Summer trail approaches on the south side. And the rocks and everything between is solid ice. Weather up top was blowing ice/snow. No view. With all the ice covered snow, future snow may cause a problem with avalanche danger. Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail | Road to trailhead inaccessible
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Saturday, December 10th my brother Cody and I headed out of Seattle around 7:30 am to conquer Mt. Pilchuck in...
Saturday, December 10th my brother Cody and I headed out of Seattle around 7:30 am to conquer Mt. Pilchuck in Mt.Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. The drive there was a little foggy but we had our fingers crossed that the air would clear so we could see the incredible view from the hike. We were unable to drive to the trailhead due to snow and ice conditions so we had to park and walk. The walk was approximately 30 minutes to the trail head. The skies ahead looked nice and clear. This hike was unlike others I had been on. A nice open, clear view throughout the forest with the sun trying to peak through. The climb was steady until about 2 hours into the hike. The snow cover increased but was packed down pretty well so it made it easy to walk along without snow shoes. As we continued to climb up the visibility became less and less and the snow began to fall. The vertical climb seemed to become steeper and steeper as we neared the lookout tower. Finally, we reached the top as the snow started to fall heavier. Inside the tower we took a break to eat our sandwich and rest up. After about 20 minutes we opened the door up to start on down and the snow was falling faster and the fog a little heavier. Unfortunately, we had no views of the surrounding mountains or forest. The hike back down took about a third of the time it took to get back up. Sliding down from trail to trail made the trek so much more enjoyable. We ran into about 4 other groups heading to the top around 1 pm. We were unsure why they were heading up so late in the day especially since the visibility was so bad. After approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes and 5,340 ft we made it back to the trial head safely.
View more hikes: http://withloveandluck.blogspot.com/[…]/mt-pilchuck.html Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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2 things I was reminded of today. Snowshoeing in the western Cascades usually means "carrying the snowshoes on your...
2 things I was reminded of today. Snowshoeing in the western Cascades usually means "carrying the snowshoes on your back" AND Mount Pilchuk is an awesome little mountain, especially now when the crowds have dwindled.
Panzer and I arrived at the 2nd gate on the forest road located about 1.5 miles from Pilchuk TH. The gate was closed so we had no choice but to park there and walk the road to the trailhead. The drive to the gate was slick in places and the snow which starts about halfway up was packed yielding good clearance for the vehicle. We wore microspikes on the trail all the way to the summit for traction, although it was only icy on the first 1/2mile or so. The snow was actually great powder but some prior trekkers had compacted the trail fairly well for about 75% of the route. There are places above tree line which required some kick-stepping. The slide potential appeared fairly low on the trail except for a couple of ledge areas which could have been uncomfortable, but not hazardous, and no need for an ice axe. The rocks/boulders on the ridge were snowed in enough to eliminate scrambling directly on rock. The lookout deck was cleared on the south side. The spectacular 360 degree view of numerous peaks lead to peak identification which is always fun. Quick lunch and back down. From car to summit, up in about 3 hours and down in about 2 hours. The trail is in excellent shape with some trail markers in place as well. We stayed high on the ridge rather than dropping down into the trees on the back side of the ridge (did not do full summer route). Great choice for this clear, cold day in December. |
Lookout photo by Norm Buckley taken Sep. 11, 2009.
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