Mileage: 13.8 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 900 ft/2500ft
Map: Green Trails Glacier Peak No. 112
Favorite Eats After Hike: Mirkwood Public House, Creekside Ale 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.
Hike Details:
The Suiattle River Trail offers both a leisurely wander along a stunning body of water flowing from Glacier Peak but a connector trail to the Pacific Crest Trail and other destinations in the Glacier Peak Wilderness and North Cascades. With minimal gain over a long distance through both old and mature growth forest, the only thing to worry about is crossing small streams and the occasional downed tree. However, because this trail is necessary for trail work parties and equestrian riders to access the backcountry, it is usually one of the first to see maintenance. Camping is available along the way but an early arrival is necessary on the weekends.
My hikes:
7/1-8/2017 35 miles RT, Halfmile’s Maps for Section K
We spent a week camped at PCT mile 2533 (Vista Creek) doing trail work on the PCT as part of a 3 week long work party with the PCTA North 350 Blades at the beginning of July. The Suiattle River Trail is seeing a lot of love even though the weather is causing rotten trees to fall on a regular basis (trail was clear when we hiked in on the 1st but some trees had fallen when we walked out on the 8th). All the streams are flowing well, lots of water to be had.
Dolly Creek was high, best place to cross is downstream just a bit to where it is flat and more tame. We only saw about 6 people hiking while camped: 3 folks headed to Glacier Peak for the long weekend and 3 PCT hikers headed SOBO (prepared with ice axes). No one ever came from the PCT northbound except for the 3 Glacier Peak folks returning from their trip. The trail south from mile 2533 is free from downed trees and a lot of brush (or will be by the 14th) for at least 4 miles as you make your way up the switchbacks towards Vista Ridge at about 6000ft. We ventured up there on July 4th for the afternoon, taking a brief break from trail work.
Snow was intermittent until the campsite at mile 2529, which was snow free. To the ridge there was more snow but enough bare spots to keep the trail almost to where it contours around the ridge.
The trail to Grassy Point was mostly bare and beckoned but I didn’t have time to check it out on this trip.
Looking south on the PCT from the ridge the trail was covered intermittently with snow. The lineup of the peaks in the distance northbound was stellar, and that doesn’t even include Glacier Peak to the south!
Walking out on the 8th, we saw 4 more PCT SOBO hikers, some prepared on other not so much. Can’t wait to here about how they did at Fire Creek Pass!
2/13/16
I was here last on President’s weekend of this year and although it was a wet day, it was a great time with friends. I wrote about our hike on my post, The Pull. This is a nice long trail that meets up with the Pacific Crest Trail but you can meander along the river as far as you feel up to. The Suiattle River Trail stays fairly level and weaves through the forest along the mighty river as it flows down from Glacier Peak. The area sees a lot of action, either from slides that bring trees down on to the trail or erosion from the flow of the river. It is a great introduction to the North Cascades for those of you who prefer your trails a bit rambling rather than strenuous.
The trailhead for this hike is also shared with another hike, Sulphur Mountain if you are up for more of a challenge and want beautiful views of Glacier Peak.
Directions: This hike starts 23 miles in at the end of the Suiattle River Road (FR 26) off SR 530 a few miles north of Darrington, WA. You can get there from either the Arlington (208) or Burlington exit (230) off I-5. This is a great road that turns to gravel but it is wide and well maintained. Drive 23 miles until it ends at the large trailhead. There is a small campground nearby and a privy. Northwest Trail Pass is needed.
For more hikes nearby on the North Cascades Highway, click HERE.
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