mount pilchuck

One of my favorite hikes in Washington (and I hike a lot!). Stop in Granite Falls, use the restroom and get a Forest Pass at one of the gas stations before heading into the park. The hike offers diverse scenery as you make the way up the mountain...woods, mountainside, rocks...the trail covers it all. Be prepared for snow because this is 5800 feet at the top you will often run into some. Amazing views from the tour at the top, 360 degrees and beauty in every direction. If you are a hiker this is what it is all about. The trail can get busy so be prepared to be hiking with others. Good for dogs also. Enjoy.

About an hour and a half north of Seattle, Mount Pilchuck is worth the trip. Steep and rocky, but short enough where its a very manageable hike. We were going at an average pace and took us about 4 hours round trip. Hiking boots are a good idea due to a lot of loose rock near the top and the trail seemed great for dogs. Once you get to the top, you scramble up large boulders to the lookout tower for a great 360 view of the area. Only complaint was it's a very crowded trail and the tower up top was packed with people. You need a northwest forest pass for the parking lot.

Beautiful time of year to hike although not an intense hike it requires some stamina. At this time of the year there is still a lot of snow, and because of weather conditions, slush and ice, be prepared... Just because it's beautiful and not so difficult snow and altitude can be deceiving. I've done this hike several times over the past couple of years at different times. Always fantastic views. Lookout is incredible and rock formations worth all the pics possible. You'll also get plenty of water and lots of people. The earlier the better. Highly recommend. Just be prepared. You will need a forest pass.

Trail is rocky, steep and unforgiving. Nothing technical though. Recommend firm shoes and hiking poles if you have them. Dogs are ok, but be aware the last bit to the fire lookout is a scramble unsuitable for small dogs. Every time I go someone inconsiderate leaves their yelping dog leashed to a tree, in the middle of the trail, ready to get entangled with its leash.

We just stumbled on this hike really, we didn't have much of an idea what to expect, we'd started our hike late in the day (silly idea we know) so were asking passerbys the entire way up whether they'd think that we'd make it ... we got mixed responses so decided just to go as quickly as we could. There were easier parts of the trail, then some pretty sketchy places, where you'd be climbing straight over large rocks. I would recommend this hike for anyone looking for adventure, the only thing I would do differently would be to go earlier so we wouldn't have to rush so much.When you get to the summit - WOW. Completely worth it. There is an old hut there, from which you have a 360 degree view of the entire region. We were lucky in a way we were there late as we got to witness a breathtaking sunset, but walking down in the dark wasn't a lot of fun, there were a couple of stumbles.

Hike is 6 miles roundtrip, the view from the fire-lookout is tremendous! A little freaky getting to and from the lookout, but well worth the effort. Hike is moderate to difficult for novice hikers. Best on a clear day.

Nothing like the beautiful outdoors! Fresh Air, Wildlife, Hiking Trails, Tranquility! Dogs are welcome, on leash, and be sure to bring along a 'doody' bag to clean up after them. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, and bring along a walking stick if you have one! This is a place you'll want to come back to over and over again!