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Suiattle River Trail

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
48.2481, -121.1921 Map & Directions
Length
13.8 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
900 feet
Highest Point
2,500 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty
Moderate/Hard

Wildfire: Trail closed

Lush green foliage along the Suiattle River Trail. Photo by Kim Brown. Full-size image
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Established campsites
  • Waterfalls
  • Old growth
  • Good for kids
  • Rivers

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

Northwest Forest Pass
Saved to My Backpack

The trail winds its way above the Suiattle River through old-growth forest and some mature forest recovering from an old burn from the 1920’s. The vegetation in the upper Suiattle watershed includes a wonderful mixture of west-of-the-crest/east-of-the-crest species. Continue reading

Rating
3.80 out of 5

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Hiking Suiattle River Trail

The trail winds its way above the Suiattle River through old growth forest and some mature forest recovering from an old burn from the 1920’s. The vegetation in the upper Suiattle watershed includes a wonderful mixture of west/east species. Along the trail you will see Pacific (western) yew, Douglas-fir and western hemlock, and on the Miner’s Ridge trail, accessible from the Suiattle River trail, you'll see lodgepole pine.

Within minutes of the Suiattle trailhead is the steep, lovely Sulphur Mountain trail. At 0.9 miles is the unsigned intersection with the now-inaccessible Milk Creek trail. There no bridge over the Suiattle River as of October 2014.

At about 3 miles is a commuter campsite (not a destination-camp). It is nice, but there is no water nearby. In early season, expect wet boots at several water crossings on the trail, but later in summer, these are mere rock-hops.

Roughly 6.5 miles in, an impressive log suspension bridge spans Canyon Creek, where there are several nice campsites on both sides of the creek, and pit toilets. At 0.3 miles beyond Canyon Creek, the Suiattle Trail becomes the Pacific Crest Trail. It is worth the 15 minute walk on the PCT south to views of the Suiattle River from the hiker/stock bridge over the River. Further on, the PCT south leads to Mica Lake and Fire Creek Pass in the lap of Glacier Peak, and beyond.

Back on the Suiattle trail, in 2.5 miles, the PCT north intersects with the Miners Ridge Trail (#785) to Miner’s Ridge Lookout, Image Lake and high mountain explorations. Beyond Image Lake lie Lyman Lakes and a multitude of other backcountry adventures.

Toilet Information

  • No toilet at trailhead

More information about toilets

WTA worked here in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2000 and 1999!

Hike Description Written by
Kim Brown, WTA Community

Suiattle River Trail

Map & Directions

Trailhead
Co-ordinates: 48.2481, -121.1921 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

Wildfire: Trail closed

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

Drive Highway 530 north from Darrington or south from Highway 20 near Rockport. Turn east on FR 26 (the Suiattle River Road) and drive to the end of the road (about 23 miles).

More Hike Details

Trailhead

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Suiattle River Trail (#784)

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Darrington Ranger District

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Suiattle River Trail

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