Darrington, Washington
Looking for the best backpacking in Darrington? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Darrington. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Backpacking Spots in and near Darrington
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Marblemount, Washington
Climb Eldorado Peak via the East Ridge
8 mi / 6800 ft gainStanding on the knife edge summit, the terrain around you plummets steeply into glacier-filled basins that trickle into turquoise alpine lakes. Serrated snowy peaks give way to forest covered valleys below that craft a rugged landscape. Eldorado Peak delivers you atop this wild and mountainous wo...Read more -
Marblemount, Washington
Sahale Glacier Camp via Cascade Trailhead
5.011.09 mi / 4183 ft gainAs an initial note, to spend an overnight at Sahale Glacier Camp, you need to obtain a permit at the North Cascades Ranger Station in Marblemount, Washington. Permits are limited, so get there early or call in advance. To start, go to Marblemount, WA and then drive ~23 miles east on Cascade Rive...Read more -
Skagit County, Washington
Pelton Basin Camp
8.82 mi / 2543 ft gainStarting at 3,640 feet elevation, the Cascade Pass Trailhead begins adjacent to the Johannesburg Camp and proceeds east along a relentless series of switchbacks. Though the trail is consumed by a thick Washington evergreen forest, the switchbacks frequently open to sweeping vistas of the far-reac...Read more -
Skagit County, Washington
Climb Sahale Peak via the South Slope Route
5.012 mi / 4000 ft gainTo get to Sahale Peak, drive to Marblemount, WA and continue on the Cascade River Road (Forest Road 15) for 23.5 miles. The road ends at the Cascade Pass trailhead, where the climb begins.The first part of the climb follows the Cascade Pass trail for 3.5 miles and 1,800 feet. Cascade Pass makes a...Read more -
Concrete, Washington
Dock Butte
4.53.92 mi / 1388 ft gainDock Butte is an easy hike offering truly spectacular 360 degree views of the Mt. Baker region. In summer this summit can be done as an easy walk up. It is especially good during the late summer for hikers and introducing someone into hiking. From the parking lot the trail goes through forest wi...Read more -
Concrete, Washington
Anderson and Watson Lake
5.68 mi / 1165 ft gainThe drive up to the starting point of the trail to Anderson and Watson Lake was easy, but at the end it gets a little tricky - the service road is sharp gravel and runs for about 10 miles to the trailhead. Some spots are steep and there are large potholes, but slow and steady wins the race. There...Read more -
Marblemount, Washington
Winter ascent of Trappers Peak
9.78 mi / 3448 ft gainNorth Cascade National Park is home to some of the most rugged and remote mountains in the lower 48 states. Because of this, the area is rarely seen up close and personal in the winter, but there are a few spots where you can see these wild mountains that will defy all imagination. In terms of lo...Read more -
Marblemount, Washington
Thornton Lakes & Trappers Peak
3.710.57 mi / 3885 ft gainTo get to your campground or to Trappers Peak, hike roughly five miles along the trail to ridge, where the trail divides. If you head left you'll go down into lake basis where you can drop your gear. Come back to the divide and head right, which will lead you up to trappers peak. Something to ke...Read more -
Gold Bar, Washington
Barclay Lake
4.44.4 mi / 607 ft gainWith less than 500 feet of total elevation and 4.4 miles of round trip hiking, the Barclay Lake trail is a perfect hike for beginners, families, or those looking for a quick morning or afternoon jaunt. Yet dont let the simplicity of the hike fool you. The end result of the hike is nothing short o...Read more -
Concrete, Washington
Park Butte Lookout
4.57.64 mi / 2100 ft gainThis place is really the stuff of fairy tales. Where else can you find a tiny cabin with 360-degree views of stunning mountain scenery? To the west, you can see all the way to Bellingham and the Puget Sound. To the south and east lie the jagged North Cascades. And the entire northern horizon is ...Read more -
Concrete, Washington
Backpack the Easton Glacier Railroad Grade
10 mi / 3000 ft gainBegin at the Park Butte trailhead, trail 603. Hike past the first Scott Paul trail sign a few hundred feet from the trailhead. Continue on and cross appropriately name Rocky Creek heading up on the Park Butte Trail. Continue up the Park Butte trail passing the Scott Paul trail again at about 4,50...Read more -
Concrete, Washington
Climb Mt. Baker via Squak Glacier
10 mi / 7500 ft gainNOTE: THIS ROUTE REQUIRES GLACIER TRAVEL SKILLSMt Baker, or Kulshan, is a remarkable mountain in northwest Washington. Whether you're in Anacortes, Bellingham, Vancouver or on the San Juan Islands you can see Mt Baker standing as a citadel over the Northwest. Unlike the more popular routes like t...Read more -
Leavenworth, Washington
Evergreen Mountain Lookout
4.52.88 mi / 1522 ft gainThis is a relatively short hike, at only 2.6 miles round trip, that takes you up to the nearly 5600 foot summit. The hike may be short but it is extremely steep, gaining 1300ft in the 1.3 miles to the summit, so be prepared for a good leg workout. On the way to the top you will walk through field...Read more -
Marblemount, Washington
Terror Basin and West McMillan Spire
16.98 mi / 8868 ft gainThe Picket Range is a remote and rugged subrange of Washington's North Cascades. It draws very few visitors per year, and the odds of seeing another human on your adventure are very low. West McMillan Spire is an 8,000' peak located in the Southern Pickets. It is a Class 3 climb involving bot...Read more -
Leavenworth, Washington
Scramble Fortress Mountain
5.022 mi / 6000 ft gainThe Approach Starting at the Trinity trailhead you'll hike the Buck Creek Trail towards Buck Creek Pass. The trail is fairly obvious once the snows have melted but if you are going early season (June-early July) you will definitely want to bring a GPS. The trail works it's way up the valley alon...Read more -
Leavenworth, Washington
Backpack to Ice Lakes Basin
20 mi / 7600 ft gainBegin your adventure at the Phelps Creek Trailhead, roughly a 4 hour drive from Seattle. Make sure your car has good clearance and traction because the last section of the forest service road gets a little rough. Only a few minutes after starting down the trail, you will reach a split that head...Read more