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Mount Pilchuck

Backcountry Response Team

Thu Sep 10, 2026 8:30 AM — Sun Sep 13, 2026 3:30 PM

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Region

North Cascades — Mountain Loop Highway - Verlot

Features: Earn Northwest Forest Pass

Crew Leader: WTA Chief Crew Leader

A view from below the lookout nestled in rocks.. Photo by DaneSchmick

Overview

Mount Pilchuck is one of Washington's most popular trails, and with improvements to road to the trailhead last year, it's time to get the trail in great shape for all hikers who are excited to visit it!


We'll be improving the trail to the lookout at Mount Pilchuck with the maintenance and repair of recently installed wooden crib ladders! So you'll enjoy a fun construction project in addition to a popular trail.

About the Area

Despite its intermediate difficulty, Mount Pilchuck sees a slew of visitors in a given year, as hikers flock to the trail for its grand panoramic views and historic restored fire lookout. Easily one of the most rewarding hikes in the area, its relatively short 2.7 mile, 2,300 feet ascent gifts you 360-degree views of Mount Baker, Mount Rainier and the Olympics from its shelter lookout, which sits nestled on a summit that tops out around 5,300 feet.

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference!

Project Description

Work on Mount Pilchuck will focus on maintaining recently installed trail structures called crib ladders.

Camping and Hiking Information

  • Type: Front country Basecamp
  • Location: Mount Pilchuck trailhead
  • Weather: Be prepared for variable conditions including heat, cold, wind and rain
  • Car Camping at the trailhead
  • Expected daily hike to project: up to 4 miles roundtrip over moderate terrain

Schedule

  • Day 1: Meet the crew rain or shine, set up basecamp, then hike into the worksite
  • Day 2+: Make breakfast and pack a lunch before heading out on trail with the crew by 8:00 AM. Work at your own pace, take plenty of breaks and enjoy lunch on the trail. Arrive back in camp by 4:00 or 5:00 PM for a relaxing evening. Prepare your own dinner and swap stories with the crew. / Make a lunch and pack up camp before heading out on trail with the crew by 8:00 AM. Work at your own pace, take plenty of breaks and enjoy lunch on the trail. Reach camp by 4:00 or 5:00 PM for a relaxing evening. Set up, prepare your own dinner and swap stories with the crew.
  • Final Day: Break down camp, finish trail project, hike out and say goodbye to the crew at the trailhead

For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.

Planning Information

Get ready for a challenging backcountry adventure!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

  • A great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need for the project
  • Backpacking gear and food for multiple nights on the trail
  • Good physical condition to hike with a fully-loaded backpack and be physically active for about 8-9 hours daily on uneven terrain 
  • Backpacking experience including ability to run your own camp following Leave No Trace principles
  • Day work party experience recommended
  • Flexibility to adapt to changes due to unpredictable weather or land manager requests
  • Minimum age: 18

What to Bring

Required:

  • Sturdy closed-toe shoes
  • Work gloves
  • Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)
  • Long pants

Recommended:

  • Sturdy work or hiking boots
  • Long sleeved shirt

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.

Camping gear

  • Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad
  • At least two 1-liter water bottles and a coffee mug
  • Rain jacket and rain pants
  • Extra warm clothing
  • Camp clothing such as shorts, shirt and sandals
  • Sun and bug protection
  • Headlamp and extra batteries
  • Personal items such as medication, hand sanitizer and toiletries
  • ​First aid kit
  • Lunch and snacks for Day 1
  • Lawn Chair
  • A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!

Trail work gear

  • Boots
  • Long pants 
  • Work gloves
  • Long-sleeved shirt recommended
  • Eye protection recommended (glasses, sunglasses or safety glasses)
  • Day pack recommended

A hard hat will be provided by WTA. For safety reasons, shorts and sneakers are not allowed while working. Firearms and weapons are not allowed.

More Information

From the Hiking Guide

See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.

This is a preview. Registration will open soon.

Partners

Directions

Approaching Granite Falls on Hwy 92, you will encounter a roundabout. Take the second exit and get onto Quarry Road. Take Quarry Road 2 miles. You will pass through another roundabout, but stay on Quarry Road. After 2 miles, reach the Mountain Loop Highway. Take a left onto the highway and proceed 10 miles to the Verlot Visitors Center. Continue another mile past the visitor's center, cross a bridge, then take the next right onto paved Mount Pilchuck Road.

Once you've made the right-turn, look for a sign indicating the road is FR 42. Proceed 6.8 miles down this road and you will reach the parking lot, which is just off the trailhead and bathroom for Mount Pilchuck. The last mile is unpaved and contains potholes, so drive with caution. A Northwest Forest Pass is required in the parking lot.

Note: Please follow the written directions above instead of using a GPS device. This will ensure that you get to the correct meeting location for this work party. The location of the pinpoint below is only approximate.

Getting to WTA work parties can involve travel on rough, unpaved roads in areas without cellular service and without street addresses that can be accurately used by navigation devices. Unless specifically noted otherwise, routes can generally be traveled by all types of vehicles. Volunteers with limited experience driving on unpaved mountain roads may want to allow extra time, beyond what is recommended in the directions above, to get to the meeting location.

Required Documentation

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Carpool

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