Meadow Mountain

This trail accesses the popular and rugged Glacier Peak Wilderness. Begin hiking on an old road that climbs steadily and then drops to a junction with the Crystal Lake Trail.

Stay right and continue another four miles to the former road end where the trail takes off to the left, climbing steeply through dense woods before reaching the first meadow. A small stream nearby offers a relaxing place to pause for lunch.

After a rest, continue on for another 1.5 miles to a junction with the Meadow Lake Trail on the left to the east. If you're interested in a dip, drop down 0.7 miles to the 11-acre lake.

If not, the main trail continues on past the lake turnoff, angling up a ridge passing forest and meadows at two miles.

Continue gaining and losing elevation, with numerous switchbacks and excellent views of Glacier Peak. Although camp spots are frequent along the way, the first site with guaranteed water is at 8.5 miles.

Arrive at the ridge crest, which sits at 5,850 feet. From here, you’ll need a compass and map to reach 9.6-acre Diamond Lake at 5,250 feet and 11-acre Emerald Lake at 5,150 feet, since there is not a trail to either lake. They're worth the visit, especially if you're practicing your navigational skills.

The trail continues up and down, remaining below the ridge crest and proceeding through patches of trees, flowers and views. At 12 miles the trail drops steadily as you pass Fire Mountain. Good camping can be found here. This is the point to turn back and return to the trailhead, since the trail peters a little ways past this.

If continuing, the unmaintained trail will drop steeply down switchbacks 4.5 miles to the junction with the former White Chuck Trail, which was obliterated in the 2003 floods. The old route leads west, back to the now decommissioned upper five miles of the Whitechuck River Road 23.