Three Fingers-Goat Flats-Saddle Lake Trail 641
A rough, root-filled trail travels from Tupso Pass into Boulder River Wilderness through dense forest to four-acre Saddle Lake at 2.5 miles. In the early 1970s the Everett Mountaineers built a shelter at the edge of the meadows near the lake. No camping is allowed within 200 feet of Saddle Lake. Travel 2.3 miles farther through subalpine meadows and timber to Goat Flat. This camp area is often crowded on summer and fall weekends. Please protect the fragile vegetation by using only existing campsites. Fires are prohibited from Saddle Lake to Three Fingers.
Reach Tin Pan Gap after 6.2 miles. From this point onward expect a technical climb requiring climbing expertise and equipment. Three Fingers glacier must be traversed, followed by a rocky scramble and an ascent on steep ladders to the lookout on the south peak of Three Fingers Mountain. The lookout was built in 1933 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was necessary to blast off the top 10 to 15 feet of the peak in order to build the structure. Old telephone wires can still be seen intermittently along the Three Fingers Trail. In 1986 the Everett Mountaineers assumed maintenance of the lookout.
At a Glance
Usage: | Medium-Heavy |
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Best Season: | Summer/Fall |
Restrictions: | Wilderness regulations apply. Campfires are prohibited from Saddle Lake to Three Fingers. No camping within 200 feet of Saddle Lake or Bandana Lakes. |
Closest Towns: | Granite Falls, Washington |
Information Center: | Check current conditions or call Darrington Ranger District office at 360-436-1155 or Verlot Public Service Center at 360-691-7791. |
General Information
Directions:From the Verlot Public Service Center (11 miles east of Granite Falls, WA), travel west on the Mt. Loop Highway for 3.9 miles. Turn right (north) on the Tupso Pass Road (Forest Service road 41) and follow this road for 18.0 miles to the trailhead.
General Notes:
Maps:
- Darrington Ranger District
- Green Trails: Silverton 110
Activities
Mountain Climbing
Day Hiking
Fire Information | Fires are prohibited from Saddle Lake to Three Fingers. |
Elevation desc | Endig elevation: 6854 feet at Three Fingers, 5000 feet at Goat Flat, and 4000 feet at Saddle Lake. |
Difficulty Level: | Most Difficult |
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