Rugged Mailbox Peak Trail Feels the Pressure

SEATTLE – One of the Puget Sound area’s most challenging day hikes, Mailbox Peak near North Bend, is in for a long-overdue facelift.

Mailbox Peak is not typically the sort of hike that is chosen for the casual hiker’s easy outing. The summit, which has an actual mailbox at the top, is reached by a rugged trail that climbs three miles and gains over 4000 feet, sometimes at a grade as steep as 40%. The steep, rugged character of the trail makes it one of the most difficult hikes in the I-90 corridor. Mountain climbers, local hikers and even fire fighters have lugged heavy packs up and down for conditioning for decades.

But as the trail’s popularity has increased, so have the erosion and resource damage along the trail. Trail braiding, exposed tree roots and steep sections have resulted in broken ankles and lost hikers, leading to more search and rescue missions on Mailbox.

Starting this weekend, the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be working with volunteer trail crews from Washington Trails Association (WTA) to improve safety and resource damage along the trail corridor, starting with the first mile of trail. 

“There’s an allure to Mailbox Peak that has brought far more hikers to its summit than ever before, and the trail is in dire need of some emergency fixes,” said Jenni Blake, Trail programs Director for Washington Trails Association.  “Volunteers are pitching in to provide a more safe, enjoyable experience for Mailbox Peak’s visitors while also helping to prevent further erosion and natural resource damage.”

Exposed tree roots are tripping hikers and breaking ankles. Braided trails are confusing hikers and cut switchbacks have created gullies and destroyed vegetation. One section of trail is so steep and degraded that a toboggan could more easily go down than a person. In some places, hikers lose the trail and get lost, resulting in calls to King County Search and Rescue.

Located on land managed by Washington’s DNR, the Mailbox Peak trail’s origin dates all the way back to the 1950s. The name “Mailbox Peak” was coined in 1991 by hiker Sally Pfeiffer in a trip report published in WTA’s monthly publication, Signpost magazine, because the summit register was located in a heavy green mailbox.

In recent years, DNR has recognized the need to make emergency repairs to the trail that will create a balance; retain the rugged, steep character of the trail while making it safer for hikers and minimizing the resource damage that has occurred. This need has reached a critical point as hiker interest in this trail has increased.

The long-term vision for Mailbox is to add a new trail to the top of Mailbox Peak that will be easier to hike and serve more casual hikers into the future. DNR is applying for a grant from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) to build a new Mailbox Peak trail. The original steep and difficult trail will remain, while a new trail will take some of the pressure off it.

“On a recent visit to Mailbox Peak, I was amazed to see the amount of damage and erosion that has occurred on the trail just in the past year,” said Heather Cole, Recreation Manager with Washington Department of Natural Resources. “With the amount of use Mailbox is now getting, it is all about triaging the places that create a safety problem for hikers and that are causing the greatest amount of resource damage.”  

DNR is presently focusing its efforts on the user built Mailbox Peak trail, focusing on trail safety for hikers as well as preventing further resource damage along the trail corridor. One of the first things they’ll do to increase safety along the trail is to put a kiosk at the bottom of the trail and a sign warning hikers of the difficult nature of the trail, which will happen in late April. They also plan to further define the trail with white diamond markers as hikers go up and down to prevent people from getting off trail. Later this summer, Washington Conservation Crews will make emergency repairs to the upper half of the trail.

To join a volunteer work crew on the Mailbox Peak trail, contact Washington Trails Association at 206-625-1367 or www.wta.org.

Mailbox Peak Trail Work Schedule

Saturday, March 29

Sunday, March 30

Tuesday, April 1

Wednesday, April 2

Thursday, April 3

Friday, April 4

Saturday, April 5

Sunday, April 6

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Washington Trails Association is the voice for hikers in Washington state.  We protect hiking trails and wild lands, take volunteers out to maintain trails, and promote hiking as a healthy, fun way to explore the outdoors.