Name: Mount Pilchuck
Address: Pilchuck, WA
Rating: 5

more stats

2.6 miles

Distance

2,197 ft

Climb

-42 ft

Descent

01:28:21

Avg time

2,159 ft

Altitude change

3,164 ft

Altitude min

5,323 ft

Altitude max

3,164 ft

Altitude start

5,322 ft

Altitude end

15.5%

Grade

-23.8%

Grade max

66%

Grade min

2 miles

Distance climb

571 ft

Distance down

177 ft

Distance flat

01:28:21

Avg time

Mount Pilchuck Details

Activities
- Hike
- Trail Running
- Snowshoe
Riding Area

Mount Pilchuck State Park
Pilchuck, Washington
Difficulty Rating

Blue Rate
Local Popularity
100 in Hiking [+]
- 100 in Trail Running
- 5 in Snowshoeing
Global Ranking
#177 in Hiking [+]
- #17284 in Trail Running
Hiking SAC Scale

T3 Demanding Mountain Hiking
Trail Type

Singletrack
Direction

Both Directions
Physical Rating

Moderate
Alpine Trail

Yes
Dogs Allowed

Yes
eBike Allowed

No
Land Owner

WA State Parks

Despite its intermediate difficulty, Mount Pilchuck sees a slew of visitors in a given year, as hikers flock to the trail for its grand panoramic views and historic restored fire lookout.

Easily one of the most rewarding hikes in the area, its relatively short 2.7 mile, 2,300 feet ascent gifts you 360-degree views of Mount Baker, Mount Rainier and the Olympics from its shelter lookout, which sits nestled on a summit that tops out around 5,300 feet. This calf-friendly journey is all made possible by a high elevation trailhead, which sets you off on your travels around 3,000 feet, cutting what would otherwise be an arduous ten mile roundtrip in half.

All these alluring elements also make Pilchuck one of the busiest hikes in the area, so expect company along the way. Catching the trail on a quiet day is ideal, but even on weekdays the structure can take on hostel-like conditions as hikers gather, vying for space to spend the night in the first-come, first-served lookout.

Don’t let Pilchuck’s popularity fool you, however. Even with its heavy foot traffic and respectable grade, this peak should not be mistaken for a bunny hill. There are perilous elements, especially in winter, when snow may obscure the path, leading hikers to improvise and become lost. Hikers often have to be rescued from the mountain, so please take all the necessary precautions before tackling the trail. It is always encouraged that you check in with the ranger and sign the registry at the trailhead before starting your journey.

To begin, depart the trailhead and reach an immediate fork. The left trail is a false path, so steer right and get your feet wet crossing a stream, christening your journey up Mount Pilchuck. After about a quarter mile, you will see an “entering Pilchuck State Park” sign. It's seen better days, but it reaffirms your course and destination. There is sparse signage from this point on. It is not a particularly hazardous trail early on, but depending on the season, you could be dealing with rocky, snowy and wet conditions on the latter part of the trip, so be prepared for anything. Traction devices and poles are strongly encouraged if snow is present on the trail.

You will encounter a scree slope at the one-mile mark (the elevation marker should be about 3,500 feet for reference). Do not attempt to scramble upward. Instead, look for an orange marker that guide you left through the boulder field and lead you back to the defined trail. After another half mile, you will depart the forest and reach a clearing. Unless cloud cover is obscuring it, the fire lookout should be visible at the summit. Use this landmark as reference, as hikers have been known to gravitate toward false summits and place themselves in danger.

After snaking up the exposed slope, you will reach the cone of the summit. There should be a brown “Parking Area” sign on a tree pointing returning hikers back down the slope you have just hiked up. This will be the last vestige of signage before reaching the lookout. If you do not see this sign and are not confident of your whereabouts, it is possible that you have wandered toward one of the false summits. On the right trail, you will continue on, winding around the peak until you eventually reach the top of the mountain and its sublime restored fire lookout.

Sit, eat and enjoy your time in the shelter. Originally constructed in 1921 (almost ten years after the first trail on the mountain was established), the fire lookout now stands today as a proud landmark for the area. The shelter has endured numerous renovations over the years and continues to be one of the most popular and in-demand lunch spots in Washington. Reservations are not necessary, however, as even on the busiest of days, spirits are high with summiters and the atmosphere is always welcoming and inclusive, even between large parties that camp out on the benches and outlying boulders. It’s hard not to find a smiling face on top of this picturesque peak. A social mountain, indeed. And one that should not be missed.

source: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mount-pilchuck

Local Trail Association

Washington Trails Association (Toyota/GAIA GPS) (www.wta.org)
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Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week

1 rides
6 miles average

6 Months

6 rides
7 miles avg distance

All

41 rides

c1	c2	c3	c4
January	February	March	April
May	June	July	August
September	October	November	December

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Mount Pilchuck Trail Reports

status	date	description
	May 31, 2026 @ 8:33am (America/Los_Angeles) May 31, 2026	Very nice. Little mud at bottom and a couple of spots with snow. Very good condition.
	Oct 9, 2025 @ 12:46pm (America/Los_Angeles) Oct 9, 2025
	Sep 28, 2024 @ 9:09am Sep 28, 2024
	Jul 12, 2020 @ 1:05pm Jul 12, 2020	The top few switchbacks before you get out onto the peak are still covered in a decent amount of snow, however it is easily cleared even without...

Routes with this trail

Mount Pilchuck Lookout

5 miles • 2,246 ft • 2 • Out & Back •

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mount Pilchuck

▼ Where is Mount Pilchuck located?

Mount Pilchuck is located in Mount Pilchuck State Park, Pilchuck, Washington, United States. It is part of the Mount Pilchuck State Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 48.07023, -121.81467.

▼ How hard is Mount Pilchuck?

Mount Pilchuck is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 15.5%.

▼ What is the elevation gain for Mount Pilchuck?

Mount Pilchuck has 2,197 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 42 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 3,164 ft to 5,323 ft.

▼ Is Mount Pilchuck a point to point trail?

Mount Pilchuck is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.

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Mount Pilchuck