Choose a campground that meets your needs and enjoy your experience on the forest. Some campsites offer modern conveniences and others are primitive, but each offers a tranquil get-away.
Choose a campground that meets your needs and enjoy your experience on the forest. Some campsites offer modern conveniences and others are primitive, but each offers a tranquil get-away.
Drive east on State Route 20 to the Baker River Highway and beautiful Baker Lake. The area around this nine-mile reservoir features camping, boating, fishing, picnicking, hiking and pack and saddle trips.
Developed campgrounds are located on the western side of the lake.
The Baker Lake Trail is an easy family hike. It extends along the eastern shoreline, crossing Baker River at the north end of the lake.
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This impressive mountain landscape on the southeast flanks of Mt. Baker’s slopes offers year-round recreational fun. During summer months, hikers and stock parties share trails leading off from the end of Forest Service road 13 or through the Middle Fork and South Fork Nooksack River drainages. Winter recreation includes cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing.
Explore the Skagit Wild and Scenic River System
Segments of the Skagit, Sauk, Suiattle and Cascade rivers make up the federally designated Skagit Wild & Scenic River system.
Baker Lake Sockeye Season
Sockeye season could open as early as July and fishing enthusiasts will be flocking to Baker Lake.
Travel east on Interstate 90 to Snoqualmie Pass, where a multitude of recreational possibilities await you. Don't miss downhill skiing at Snoqualmie Pass. Hike for endless miles in the awe-inspiring Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
Mountains to Sound Greenway
Drive Interstate 90 east from Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass, stopping along the way to fish for trout in the Snoqualmie River, or meander along the Asahel Curtis Nature Trail, a one-mile walk through stately old-growth fir and cedar. Leave the freeway at milepost 47 and drive the Denny Creek Road, following the historic wagon route used by early settlers to cross Snoqualmie Pass. Fourteen trailheads access more than a 100 miles of trails ranging in difficulty from "almost easy" to "punishing." Hike to scenic ridgetops or peaceful mountain lakes.
Nature Viewing
Allow time to walk along the Gold Creek Pond Interpretive Trail, where mountains are often reflected in the pond, providing great photo opportunities.
The Wilderness Experience
Snoqualmie Ranger District is responsible for the stewardship and preservation of the Clearwater Wilderness, portions of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and the Norse Peak Wilderness. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy this wild landscape while preserving its integrity and beauty for future generations.
The historic Mather Memorial Parkway (State Route 410) is the gateway to a recreational haven. On a clear day, enjoy spectacular views of Mt. Rainier. For more excitement, take a spin in the off-road vehicle area at Evans Creek, or zip down the slopes of Crystal Mountain Ski Area. Or if you prefer solitude, escape into the solace of the forest and leave the world behind.
Mather Memorial Parkway
Created in 1931, this paved two-lane classic Cascades drive along Highway 410 from Enumclaw to the eastern edge of Mount Rainier National Park presents majestic views of Mount Rainier and surrounding peaks. More than 200 miles of trails accommodate hikers, horses and mountain bikes. Drive, hike or ride to the Suntop Lookout Cabin at the top of Forest Road 7315. Choose a primitive campsite along forest roads east and west of the parkway. In November buy a permit at the Enumclaw office and take the family out to the woods to cut your own Christmas tree. Most forest roads are unpaved and minimally maintained. Cell phones have limited coverage in the mountains.
This campground is located in a beautiful forest setting offering 40 miles of combined four-wheel drive and motorcycle/quad trails of varying difficulty. A covered picnic shelter is available on first come first served basis and is often shared by club members and volunteers who host several work parties to maintain the site and trails.
Linking Darrington with Granite Falls is the Mountain Loop National Scenic Byway, which was first pioneered in 1891 by miners` dreams. Later developed as a road by loggers and members of the CCC, this road was designated a Scenic Byway in 1991. Today`s roadway passes 55 miles through boom-and-bust town sites and abandoned claims, as well as rushing rivers and glacier-clad peaks. Although the tracks are gone and the daily whistle silenced, today`s traveler can still see remnants of times gone by.
Discover the Verlot Public Service Center, near the South Fork Stillaguamish River. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1933 to 1942, Verlot`s handsome buildings reflect the architectural style and fine craftsmanship of that era and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Operating seasonally, the center`s employees will help you plan an outing.
With snow lingering at Barlow Pass through late spring, driving the entire loop is usually limited to late spring through the fall. The road is paved from Verlot to Barlow Pass and from Darrington to the junction with the White Chuck River Road. The middle portion (14 miles) is a single-lane gravel road.
Starting at the northern boundaries of the forest, take a drive on the Mt. Baker Scenic Byway (State Route 542). This paved road starts at the Interstate 5 interchange in Bellingham, Wash., winds along the scenic North Fork Nooksack River, and climbs to an elevation of 5,140 feet to its well-named destination, Artist Point. This area is legendary for its spectacular views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan. Stop by the Glacier Public Service Center just east of Glacier at milepost 34 to learn about current forest road and trail conditions.
Mt. Baker - A State Scenic Highway and National Forest Scenic Byway
State Route 542 is a Washington State Scenic Highway and a National Forest Scenic Byway. The forest byway begins just east of the town of Glacier as the route enters the national forest, leading travelers to historic Heather Meadows, home of the Mt. Baker Ski Area. Forest roads lead off the main highway into the heart of the national forest with trails accessing the Mt. Baker Wilderness and North Cascades National Park backcountry.
Four Seasons of Recreation
During summer months, Mt. Baker's 10,781 foot snow-covered peak rises above the landscape. On a clear day, several vantage points offer spectacular views of neighboring Mt. Shuksan and surrounding slopes of the Cascade Mountain range. Hikers can head out on more than 200 miles of trails and campers can enjoy long evenings in rustic settings. The fall months bring cooler temperatures and lower snow levels, limiting hiking access to the high country. Several side roads are groomed, turning them into a winter playland for snowmobiles and cross-country skiers. During winter months the Mt. Baker Ski Area operates in Heather Meadows at the end of the byway.
Heather Meadows
Heather and huckleberry meadows dotting the Heather Meadows landscape near the eastern end of the Mount Baker Scenic Byway, (State Route 542). Glistening lakes nestle between knolls. Ridges bristle with 900-year-old mountain hemlock. Lava flows from Mount Baker have resisted glacial carving and columns of andesite stand like black anvils against the sky. During the summer months enjoy a picnic, stroll the trails and stop by the Heather Meadows Visitor Center for a historical perspective of the area’s rich heritage.
Follow State Route 20 east and view one of the largest populations of bald eagles in the United States along the Skagit River. Five native salmon species and sea-going trout attract the eagles to the Skagit River. State Route 20 eventually travels into the heart of the neighboring North Cascades National Park.
Explore the Skagit Wild and Scenic River System
Segments of the Skagit, Sauk, Suiattle and Cascade Rivers make up the federally designated Skagit Wild & Scenic River System.
Launch your boat or if you aren’t an experienced river traveler, join one of the river outfitters who specialize in guided trips.
Enjoy camping at Rasar, Howard Miller Steelhead Park and Forest Service campgrounds along the Cascade, Sauk and Suiattle Rivers. Hike lowland trails beside the rivers, or climb high above the valleys on mountain trails, which offer sweeping views.
You may view abundant wildlife along the Skagit, including the largest wintering population of bald eagles in Washington State. Eagles arrive in the late fall and stay in the area through January to feed on salmon carcasses. Observe eagles from roadside view points along State Route 20 between the towns of Concrete and Marblemount.
The Suiattle River Road is located northeast of Darrington and is a major route into the Glacier Peak Wilderness, accessing the Pacific Crest Trail and roughly 120 miles of hiking trails within the Suiattle River Watershed. The road provides scenic and pleasure driving and allows people to access areas to hunt, search for wild mushrooms, pick berries and gather other forest products. Tribal members use the road to reach areas and resources important for traditional cultural practices and exercise reserved Treaty rights.
Traveling along Highway 2, enter the center of the forest along the Skykomish River, a rafting adventurers' dream.
Grab your skis! In just two hours you will be gliding down the slopes at Stevens Pass Ski Area. Check in at the Stevens Pass Historic District for an overview of the area's colorful railroad and mining past.
