Mileage: 7 miles RT (if you make the summit it is closer to 12.6 miles RT)
Elevation Gain/Highest: 4125/5125ft (5830ft for true summit)
Map: Green Trails Snowking Mountain No 79, Caltopo
Favorite Eats After Hike: Mirkwood Public House, Glorybucha Microbrewery, River Time Brewing, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
My Hike:
7/7/2015
You read that right, 4125ft in 3.5 miles. This was my first hike with my favorite Meetup group and it has gone down in infamy as our worst. Then why am I even posting about it? Well, I hope some day to redeem it because I am sure it has potential. Plus, it offers solitude which I appreciate.
The trail was so overgrown where it starts off the Suiattle River Road, there were NO views for most of the forested climb and the bugs were so horrific once we hit the verdant alpine meadows on the slopes before South Huckleberry Mountain that the leaders in our group had already begun to retreat before those of us in the back had made the meadows at the top. It was clear the trail continued along the ridge to South Huckleberry Mountain and up to Huckleberry Mountain itself but that would be for another day.
We only stuck around long enough to chug down water and a few bites of lunch before making our way back down.
I do know that some of the trail has been brushed out since our trip, that might help a bit. But you will have to be dedicated to the cause to hike this trail and value having it to yourself.
Directions: From Darrington travel north on State Route 530 for 7.5 miles, turning right immediately after the Sauk River bridge onto Forest Road 26 (Suiattle River Road). Follow FR 26 first on pavement, then on gravel for 14.5 miles to the unobtrusive trailhead (elev. 1000 feet). You will see a large log on the right side of the road and a view of the river. The left won’t have much but the sign you see in the gallery.
Click here for more hikes on the Mountain Loop Highway and here for the SR 20 North Cascades Highway.
Thank you so much for stopping by Must Hike Must Eat!
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Need some eating out suggestions when friends want to stop after a hike? I have a Pacific Northwest Eating Guide here.
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