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Frog Mountain

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
47.8806, -121.3217 Map & Directions
Length
7.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
2,166 feet
Highest Point
4,852 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty
Moderate/Hard
View from Frog Mountain trail on a clear day. Photo by jaininwoodway. Full-size image
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Mountain views
  • Summits
  • Wildflowers/Meadows

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

None
Saved to My Backpack

Built with the help of many WTA work parties, the Frog Mountain trail is the newest trail on the Skykomish Ranger District. It offers views of the Skykomish Valley from the summit and a great shoulder-season hike. Continue reading

Rating
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Hiking Frog Mountain

From the trailhead, you'll set out on a fairly wide trail meandering through large trees. Note the giant crib wall in the first half-mile of the trail; built and completed in one work party! You will also walk over several humps marked by a boulder on each side; these are drains, doing great work diverting water so that trail erosion is kept to a minimum.

The first two miles of trail are mostly in the shade. You'll cross some small stream trickling off the hillside and be surrounded by signature lush western Washington forest. 

After two miles of gentle climbing, the trail narrows and becomes slightly more exposed. On the plus side, this means you begin to be able to see mountains here! It may get hot — have sunscreen with you and reapply as needed.

If it's clear, the views are mostly due west, gradually revealing Glacier, Sloan and Kyes peaks. Your best views are in the final half-mile. If your jaw's on the ground from the view, you're nearly to the top.

At the summit, expect wildflowers and berries in the spring and late summer, respectively. In late fall the colors on the huckleberries are vibrant and stunning. This is a popular trail, so expect to share the summit with other hikers. If you want a little solitude with your views, there are plenty of stopping spots along the way to pause and enjoy a quiet moment.

There is a pit toilet available about 100 feet up the trail from the trailhead. There is a small sign on the spur road going straight ahead at Jacks Pass that leads to the trailhead parking lot.

Toilet Information

  • Toilet at trailhead
  • Backcountry privy available

More information about toilets

WTA worked here in 2024, 2023, 2020 and 2019!

Hike Description Written by
Anna Roth, WTA Correspondent

Frog Mountain

Map & Directions

Trailhead
Co-ordinates: 47.8806, -121.3217 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

See weather forecast

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

None

WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

Drive Highway 2 east to the turnoff for Index and turn left. About a mile and a half from the turnoff of Highway 2, you can turn left again and take a bridge into the tiny town of Index. There's a toilet in town near the playground that is a good pit stop if you need it. 

Back on the Index-Galena Road, turn north out of Index and continue on this road, which gets a little narrower and rougher as you get further up. In about 14 miles, the road becomes graveled. Here, the road also gets steep, so it's a good idea to slow down a bit on your way. In about 2.4 miles, you'll arrive at Jack's Pass, an unsigned five-way intersection. Here, turn left onto a narrow, gravel road for just 0.1 miles to access the large parking lot and the trailhead.

Access from Beckler River Road

Drive Highway 2 to the Beckler River Road turnoff (a left turn if you're coming from the west, a right turn if you're coming from the east). Drive 7.0 miles and arrive at an intersection. Continue straight (the left fork) to Forest Road 65 for 6.5 miles until you reach a wide intersection of forest roads. Take the upper right-hand road (about 2:00 when emerging from the Forest Road 65) to the trailhead and large parking area.

There is a nice pit toilet up the trail 100 feet. 

More Hike Details

Trailhead

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Skykomish Ranger District

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Frog Mountain

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