Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Recreational Activities

Hiking & Trails

Passes | Short Hikes | Scenic Hikes | Pack Trips | Trail Facts | Trail Accomplishment Reports

Completed Projects

Northwest Youth Corps Teens Help to Improve Forest Trails

Teens from Northwest Youth Corps helped to restore and maintain several trails on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest during the summer of 2005.

A total of 11 crews worked on various trail projects including: Lookout Mountain on the Mt. Baker Ranger District, Chockwich on the Darrington Ranger District, North Fork Skykomish on the Skykomish Ranger District, and Dutch Miller Gap on the Snoqualmie Ranger District.

The teens, ages 16-19, helped to rehabilitate sections of the various trails making them safer and more accessible.

Northwest Youth Corps is a nonprofit organization that provides teens an opportunity to develop job skills and learn how to work together and protect the environment. The Northwest Youth Corp has partnered with the Forest Service since 2003 and contributed nearly $500,000 dollars toward trail maintenance efforts.

Photo: For the last several summers, teens from Northwest Youth Corps have been helping to maintain various trails on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. In summer 2004 they worked on the West Fork Foss Lakes Trail at Big Heart Lake on the Skykomish Ranger District.

PASSES

Recreationists are reminded that a Northwest Forest Pass is required at trailheads in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Hikers can buy a $30 annual pass or a $5 day pass at Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Ranger Stations. Passes are also available at local vendors or can be ordered by calling (toll free) 1-800-270-7504 or ordered on-line through Nature of the Northwest.

Eighty percent of fees from the sale of Northwest Forest Passes are returned to the local national forests for maintaining facilities, providing services, or restoring ecosystems. Last year, as a result of fees collected, over 750 miles of trails in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest were maintained or repaired. In addition, fees were used for restroom upkeep, trailhead maintenance, and maintenance of some picnic sites and interpretive trails.

SHORT HIKES

Many areas, such as the Verlot (Darrington Ranger District - South Fork Stillaguamish River valley) backcountry, feature a variety of relatively short trails that lead past giant trees to gorgeous lakes ringed by peaks and trees. The Mt. Baker National Recreation Area also offers hikes which lead to fantastic viewpoints of deep valleys, close up views of massive glaciers and wide vistas. Generally one will find that every Ranger District has short hike opportunities that are not well known because these type of areas do not receive the "press" that high visibility areas may receive. Check with a visitor center near you for those opportunities.

SCENIC HIKES

Pick from a selection of the forest's most scenic trails and enjoy splendid views of the Cascade Mountains. Check out our list of hikes »

PACK TRIPS

Longer trail trips with stock animals or backpack are available in the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness and Glacier Peak Wilderness areas. This part of the Forest offers interconnecting trails suitable for week long trips. About one half of the trail system is open to pack stock and llamas. Shorter pack trips and scenic day rides are found in the Norse Peak Wilderness.

Miles of Trails in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Forest Wide - 1,505.7 miles
Wilderness - 585.8 miles
Non-Wilderness - 919.9 miles
Mt. Baker Ranger District - 412.1 miles
Darrington Ranger District - 367.2 miles
Skykomish Ranger District - 218.9 miles
Snoqualmie Ranger District (North Bend Area) - 178.3 miles
Snoqualmie Ranger District (White River Area) - 329.2 miles

Trail Construction Accomplishments

Construction and reconstruction of trails is generally funded through a competitive capital investment process managed by the Pacific Northwest Regional Office in Portland, Oregon. All 20 National Forests in the Region submit projects to this process each year for consideration. Projects selected are then scheduled for construction in 3 years. The first 2 years are needed for site surveys, project design, and contract package preparation. Often these projects dollars are supplemented by state, or other, grants and volunteer support.

Occasionally other resources, such as Storm Repair or deferred maintenance funds become available. The Forest actively pursues these avenues whenever possible.

Funds from the Northwest Forest Pass are not used for new construction, but may on occasion, be used to fund replacement of an existing bridge or washed out section of trail.

• 2001 Accomplishment Report
• 2000 Accomplishment Report
• 1999 Accomplishment Report
• 1998 Accomplishment Report

Trail Maintenance Accomplishments

Trail maintenance is the annual clearing of the trails of fallen trees, rocks, and cutting back brush. It also includes cleaning culverts and ditches, repairing turnpikes, boardwalks and bridges. Trail maintenance is especially tough work on the west side of the Cascades because of the big trees with big root systems, crystalline bedrock, lots of water, and the steep ground.

Maintenance costs about $1,300 per mile within wilderness areas and $1,000 outside wilderness each year. In Fiscal Years 1999 through 2001 about 90% of the funds used to maintain the trail system are generated through the Northwest Forest Pass with 10% of the funds coming from appropriated sources. Volunteer groups and other partners are used extensively to complete maintenance work.

• 2004 Accomplishment Report
• 2003 Accomplishment Report
• 2002 Accomplishment Report