How Long Is The Mount Pilchuck Hike?

Although a relatively short 5.5 mile out-and-back trail, you’ll climb 2,300 feet in

2.75 miles

–a pretty steep ascent! Adding to this, the upper 1.5 miles is extremely rocky. As a sign near the trailhead warns, “The Mount Pilchuck Trail is a steep mountain trail that is sometimes hard to follow.

How hard is Mount Pilchuck hike?

Safety precautions: Mount Pilchuck is not just a walk in the park!

The hike is strenuous

, and in the summer, the trail can be crowded. The trail gains 2,300 feet in less than 3 miles and requires walking over uneven terrain. Water is not available at the trail head and is scarce along the trail.

How long is Mt Pilchuck?

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.

How high is Mount Pilchuck?

5,344′

Can you sleep at Mt Pilchuck?

As of July 2020,

Mount Pilchuck is open for day hiking and overnight camping

. Just know that there is only one outhouse toilet at the start of the trailhead, near the parking lot. There are no other official toilets or places to get water on this trail.

Why did Mt Pilchuck ski resort close?

Although once the site of a two-lift ski resort with terrain favorably compared to Mount Baker,

several years of poor snowfall and issues renewing the operating permit in the late 1970s

led to its permanent closure in 1980.

Is Snow Lake Trail open?

Area Status:

Open

Snow Lake Trail is the most frequented trail in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Is Franklin Falls hike open?

The trail is

open year-round

and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. During the winter, visitors must park on Denny Creek Road and walk 2 miles to the trailhead.

How do I get to Glacier Peak?

Continue ENE on a boot path under the southeast side of White Mountain for ~1.3 miles to a high shoulder southeast of Point 6770 at the west edge of the Foam Creek drainage. Head northward to a pass at 6,600 ft and enjoy the first views of Glacier Peak. Head down the slope about 400 feet traversing to the right.

Is Lake Serene open?

Access area open:

Year-round

. Open to vehicles only during the regulated sport fishing season(s).

What is a Pilchuck mean?

WHAT DOES THE NAME PILCHUCK MEAN AND WHERE DID IT COME FROM? Pilchuck means “

red river

‘ in the Native American language of the region. The school is named after the tree farm where the campus is situated. The tree farm was named for the nearby river, which has substantial iron deposits that cause the banks to turn red.

How was Mt Pilchuck formed?

About 50 million years ago, the Mount Pilchuck area began pulling apart, allowing a 4-square-mile body of magma known as a ‘stock’ to push up from below. This mass of magma did not reach the surface. Instead,

it cooled slowly underground to form a type of rock known as quartz monzonite

.

Where is Mt Pilchuck?

Can you sleep in fire lookouts?

Staying in a Fire Lookout Tower

Campers have an opportunity for a unique outdoor recreation experience by staying the night in a fire tower

. Averaging $30 to $60 per night, the rustic and primitive lookouts are reserved through Recreation.gov.

How do I reserve a fire lookout in Washington?

Reservations. Want to reserve a cabin or lookout? All reservations are

through the Recreation.gov

. Visit them at recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Is Snow Lake Trail Hard?

Check out this 6.7-mile out-and-back trail near Snoqualmie Pass, Washington. Generally considered a

moderately challenging route

, it takes an average of 3 h 24 min to complete.

How long is Snow Lake Hike?

Snow Lake is a moderate,

6 mile

round trip hike with 1,300 feet of elevation gain. The trail goes up above the South Fork Snoqualmie River through forests and over a pass to a beautiful alpine lake.

Can you swim at Snow Lake?

You can swim in the very clear water lake, but it is ice melt

, so keep this fact in mind before you jump in. Forget it in June unless you bring snowshoes. The lake is gorgeous with snow fields dipping into it almost all year long.

Is Franklin Falls an easy hike?

At just 2 miles roundtrip with 400 feet in elevation gain

it is the perfect destination for any hiker looking for something easy and beautiful

.

How long is Franklin Falls trail?

If you decide to park at Denny Creek and hike to Franklin Falls in winter, you’re looking at an

8 mile

round trip hike with about 500 feet of elevation gain. The area where you can park around the closed road is often icy and snowy.

Is Franklin Falls frozen?

The Franklin Falls is

partially frozen in Winter

. With recent snow storms in February 2019 in Seattle, Pacific North west, the area near the Water falls is having approx. 10-15 feet of snow level on the river bed making you stand on a snowy platform and the water from the fall falling in to the huge bowl.