Trails for everyone, forever

Home Go Hiking Hiking Guide Old Sauk ADA Loop

Old Sauk ADA Loop

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
48.1895, -121.5167 Map & Directions
Length
1.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
200 feet
Highest Point
800 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty
Easy
The Old Sauk River offers many gorgeous views of falling water. Photo by Jeremy Barnes. Full-size image
Saved to My Backpack

Try this early-season, ADA-accessible hike to enjoy big trees, rushing waters and glimpses of eagles, mergansers and river otters. Continue reading

  • Mountain views
  • Old growth
  • Good for kids
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Rivers

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

Northwest Forest Pass
Rating
2.50 out of 5

(2 votes) Log in to rate

Hiking Old Sauk ADA Loop

The Old Sauk Trail now has a new trailhead that provides barrier-free access to a viewpoint of the Sauk River via a mile-long loop trail. The longer trail meanders along the banks of the Sauk River, sections of which were once part of the old pioneer trail linking Darrington to the Monte Cristo mines. Scattered mossy cedar stumps are telltale signs that long ago the area was once partially logged. Joyfully, a lovely forest remains. This gentle trail makes it easy to slow down and enjoy the stately stands of Douglas-fir and cedar as well as to spy eagles, or perhaps an occasional coyote.

The loop is best done by heading north from the trailhead, where it follows an old roadbed through grand bigleaf maples before veering onto a terrace sprinkled with sky-scraping conifers. The trail skirts the edge of the terrace while wandering between giant volcanic boulders, reminders that Glacier Peak is just upriver. After a half mile the trail begins a short descent through a mixed alder forest to the river and a viewpoint.

Back on the terrace, the trail continues by dipping down and crossing a small seasonal creek, then passing above a man-made fish channel. Here you can observe the wondrous works of beavers, and maybe even catch them in action. The hike back to the trailhead is a short quarter-mile from the channel.

For a longer hike, start at the trailhead near the Clear Creek Campground and hike to the trail’s end at Murphy Creek (3 miles), taking in the loop along the way.

Toilet Information

  • Toilet at trailhead

More information about toilets

WTA worked here in 2023, 2021 and 2019!

Old Sauk ADA Loop

Map & Directions

Trailhead
Co-ordinates: 48.1895, -121.5167 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

See weather forecast

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

Northwest Forest Pass

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

From I-5, take exit 208 and drive 32 miles east to Darrington. At the three-way stop, turn right (south) onto the Mountain Loop Highway for 5.5 miles to the new trailhead.

More Hike Details

Trailhead

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Darrington Ranger District

Guidebooks & Maps

Green Trails No. 110 Silverton

Buy the Green Trails Silverton No. 110 map

You can improve or add to this guidebook entry!

Old Sauk ADA Loop

28 Trip Reports

Hiked here recently?

Submit a trip report!
 
Trip Reports