Mailbox peak trail7/1/2023 Get here early! The trail can also feel congested so we definitely recommend hiking on a weekday if you are able to. Parking for this trail fills up quickly on the weekends.These days, it’s still hikeable, but the new trail provides a much more comfortable experience. The old trail was ditched for a reason! It’s very steep with no switchbacks and was a constant source of injuries and rescues back in its day. How bad is the old trail at Mailbox Peak? Please have your Discover Pass ready to go for this hike. What pass do I need to hike Mailbox Peak? He had built a mailbox at the top and challenged the kids of the retreat to climb the summit and reach the mailbox. Frequently Asked Questions Why is there a mailbox at Mailbox Peak?īack in the '60s, a postman named Carl Heine was working as the director of Valley Camp, a retreat near the base of the mountain. This 14,409-foot stratovolcano is an iconic sight and the highlight of your view on this trail. The tallest mountain in the state is a dominant part of your view on the Mailbox Peak Trail. Near the bottom, you’ll cross a couple of creeks over bridges and then reach the point at which the two trails meet again, just a few steps from the trailhead. Stay right onto the new trail, which is still quite steep, but offers some reprieve with the continual wide switchbacks. Mount Rainier is right there, and the Middle Fork valley lines the ground ahead in green.Ĭheck the mailbox, sign the register, maybe leave a trinket, and then head down the rocky section to where the trails meet. You’ll crest the peak, which sits at the end of a ridgeline. From now until the summit, you’ll gain closer to 293 m of elevation in 0.8 km. This stretch is rockier, so watch your step. The straight-up ascent goes on for about 6.4 km, at which point you rejoin the new trail for the summit ascent. Watch your footing and take it slow if you need to. It’s much more direct, making the elevation gain more demanding. Where the new trail has wide switchbacks, this trail does not. Start climbing! You’ll be gaining about 259 m of elevation per mile, and it doesn’t relent until the peak. Stay left here, as Grouse Ridge Way goes off to the right. Don’t go this way- stay right to take the old trail. A hundred yards past the gate, you’ll see the entrance to the new trail. You’ll walk for a bit along a paved path, skirting around a gate. Come prepared with lots of water- this trail is a real feat. We recommend taking the old trail up as it’s a bit too steep to descend comfortably, particularly with a noticeable lack of switchbacks. You can hike this loop either way, either ascending or descending the old trail. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s an adventure! However, the old trail still exists, and bold hikes can link the two to make a loop. The old trail for this hike was fraught with injuries and rescues, and a monumental effort built a new, safer trail. The Mailbox Peak Loop leads you to a viewpoint adorned with a sticker-clad mailbox where hikers from all over leave goodies for the next groups up. Quick Facts WWRP Applicant: Natural Resources Dept of Category: State Lands Development & Renovation WWRP Grant: 89300 Applicant Match: 52068.What’s in the mailbox? Besides the trail register, sometimes it’s trinkets left by other hikers, snacks, or notes. The primary recreation opportunity provided by this project is for hiking. The new trail provides an alternative to the current direct route to Mailbox Peak, which is extremely steep and unsuitable for most hikers. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) used this partially funded grant to construct one mile of a 5-mile trail to the summit of Mailbox Peak, located in the Mid-Fork Snoqualmie State Forest, east King County. As the popularity of outdoor recreation increases in our state, these grants help address overcrowding, ensure our outdoor amenities are safe for public use, improve visitor experience, and allow more people to enjoy our great outdoors. The State Lands Development and Renovation category provides funding to two state agencies to repair, renovate, and develop outdoor recreation facilities on existing recreation lands.
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