Glacier Peak WildernessThe Glacier Peak Wilderness, created by Congress in the original 1964 wilderness legislation, is located within portions of Chelan, Snohomish, and Skagit Counties in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington State. The area, 572,000 acres in size, 35 miles long and 20 miles wide, is characterized by heavily forested stream courses, steep sided valleys, and dramatic glacier crowned peaks. At 10,541 feet, Glacier Peak is the dominant geologic feature of the area. No roads approach the mountain, and one must hike many miles through extremely rough terrain to reach its base. Hikers can reach the volcano from the west via the White Chuck Valley, or the Suiattle River Valley; from the east, it may be approached from the western tip of Lake Chelan. Most of Glacier Peak's cone was built by relatively quiet flows of dacite lava. The last eruption 12,000 years ago, however, spread ash as far away as eastern Idaho; its violence comparable to the well known Mount St. Helens eruption of 1980. Recreation opportunities as well as solitude abound with more than 450 miles of trail and many places where you can enjoy cross-country travel. Most years the Wilderness is still buried under 10-20 feet of snow in May. Usually most trails and passes are snow free by mid-August, but this varies from year to year. Most of the main trails are maintained once a year. Scenic high country in the Glacier Peak Wilderness just outside Seattle. Fantastic old-growth forest and imposing Glacier Peak. Busy Kennedy Hot Springs is the main jumping-off point for dayhikers and backpackers alike, but the farther you walk, the more people you leave behind. Good Hike: Make a 9-mile route out of the White Chuck, Kennedy Ridge, and Pacific Crest trails. There's about 4,200 feet of elevation gain. WHERE: The wilderness is about 90 miles northeast of Seattle. From Darrington Ranger Station on WA 350, take Mountain Loop Highway (FR 20) 10 miles to White Chuck, where you pick up FR 23 for the final 11 miles to the Kennedy Hot Springs trailhead. MAPS: Sloan Peak (#111) and Glacier Peak (#112) from Green Trails Maps Recommended Reading: Glacier Peak Wilderness areahttp://www.gonorthwest.com/Washington/cascades/Glacier-Peak.htm Mount Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest- Glacier Peak WildernessTrail conditions and details Suiattle River areahttp://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/recreation/activities/trails/suiattle.shtml Hiking near Glacier Peak, Washington state the Darrington area trails.
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