Mount Pilchuck State Park Mining Road
1920s mining road to Cascade granite boulders
This abandoned mining road climbs 3,200 feet through second-growth forest to reach the granite boulder fields below Mount Pilchuck’s 5,324-foot summit. Built in the 1920s to access copper and gold claims, the upper sections deteriorated into a boulder-strewn technical challenge that ends at the old fire tower ruins with commanding views of the North Cascades and Puget Sound.
Difficult rating demands aggressive tread, skid plates, and articulation for the granite boulder section above 4,000 feet. Stock vehicles turn back at the first major rock garden. Best accessed May through October; winter snow closes the route entirely. No permits required but parking fills fast on weekends. No camping on-site, but dispersed sites available in nearby Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. This route rewards technical driving skills with one of Washington’s most dramatic alpine vistas.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 7 mi / 11.3 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5100 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified 4WD with armor |
| Nearest town | Granite Falls, Washington |
| Land manager | Washington State Parks |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
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