Granite Falls

Hike the well-maintained Mount Pilchuck Lookout trail through a variety of terrain: old-growth forest and granite boulder fields. At the top, you'll reach a lookout tower perched on Mount Pilchuck. Pilchuck sits on the western edge of the Cascades, which offers up amazing panoramic views once you reach the summit of Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak, Mt. Rainier, the Olympic Peninsula, Puget Sound, the a...

Have you ever dreamed of snow skiing and water skiing in the same day? This March, plan your adventure of a lifetime to Stevens Pass and Lake Stevens, Washington. You will need a winter coat, a wet suit, and a heart made of love for the outdoors.Keep an eye on mountain and lake weather conditions as you plan your day. Stevens Pass is usually open through March. If you choose to go on a snow day...

The trail takes you on a gradual climb up to Heather Lake with beautiful second growth to admire along the way. The trail can be very wet and muddy with many tree roots to catch your toes, so make sure to wear a sturdy pair of tennis shoes or hiking shoes. Dogs are permitted on this trail on-leash.  Make sure to notice the huge rotting stumps with the springboard notches alongside the trail; s...

If you're looking for a taste of the Mountain Loop Highway area, but don't have it in you for a longer, steeper journey, look no further than Lake 22. The trail starts out as flat and well-maintained, from the parking lot, before becoming a true mountain rainforest trail. Water and dampness are fairly ubiquitous on this trail, so be prepared with your footwear! At 0.6 miles, you'll be offered ...

Approximately 11 miles east of Granite Falls, WA, on the Mt. Loop Highway,  turn onto Forest Service road 41 and follow this road for 18.0 miles to the trailhead. The road is quite rough and it is recommended you have a four-wheel drive vehicle. There is a washout about halfway along the road, and many drivers stop here and hike or bike the rest of the way to the trailhead. The trailhead sign i...

Boulder River is a great outing for those days when you feel like you just need a good hike through the forest. This makes for a nice long day hike, but because both of the large waterfalls are within the first half of the trail, you can still see the falls without going the whole way. The trailhead starts at the end of French Creek Rd. No pass or permit is needed, so just park and hit the trai...

Walt Bailey Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Granite Falls, Washington.

Along the Mountain Loop Highway, past the crowds crawling over Mt. Pilchuck, lies the muddy, unkempt Walt Bailey Trail into a verdant subalpine basin speckled with tiny tarns. The Cutthroat Lakes are a delightful location to spend the night with optional day hikes up to exposed ridgelines and craggy peaks. While the trail’s pitch is rarely too strenuous, the mucky, rocky, rooty bootpath requir...

West View Trail to Devil's Butte is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Snohomish, Washington.