SEATTLE TO DARRINGTON

WILDERNESS TRAILHEAD ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 


From Darrington you have easy access to the Boulder River Wilderness, and (long) access to the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

Catch Sound Transit 512 from downtown Seattle at Fourth and Union at 11:35AM, arriving in Everett at Hoyt and California Sts. at 12:45PM. Catch Community Transit (CT) 210 around the corner at Hoyt and Hewitt at 1:45, reaching Smokey Point Mall at 2:35. CT 230 leaves there at 2:45, reaching Darrington at 3:50.

Why the late start? Due to severe budget cuts affecting transit systems statewide, rural transit service took a big hit. CT 230 makes three runs to Darrington in the morning, and three in the afternoon. And Community Transit runs Monday through Friday only.

For about the last eight miles of your trip, Boulder River Wilderness rises steeply on your right, with several points of access an easy walk from the highway. And once you get to Darrington, Glacier Peak Wilderness can be reached by a long walk south, continuing along the Mountain Loop Highway.

On the return trip, CT 230 leaves Darrington three times in the early morning (roughly at 6, 7, and 8:30), and in the afternoon at 4:12, 6:02, and 7:15. Connections can be made back to Seattle on the same buses you caught out here.

Transit Fares

Metro Transit, pay $1.75, ask for intersystem transfer

Community Transit, show transfer, pay additional $1.00

Squire Creek

  • bus stop to trailhead 5 miles
  • round trip, trailhead to Squire Creek Pass 7 miles

Leaving the CT230 in Darrington, walk to the southeast corner of town (it's a real small town), look for the Squire Creek Road (No. 3203). Follow it to its end, walk a bit more of the abandoned road to the trailhead. The trail starts gently, then takes a lot of switchbacks to the pass.

Behold lovely views of the peaks and glaciers of the Boulder River Wilderness. Lie on your back and watch the hawks circle in the thermals. Poke around, find a spot for the night.

Pay attention on the way back down; it can be real easy to lose the trail among the scree slopes.

Whitehorse Mountain

  • bus stop to trailhead 2 miles
  • round trip, trailhead to end 7 miles

About three miles west of Darrington, look for the Mine Road on the right (opposite the Swede Heaven Road). Leaving the bus, head up Mine Road 2 miles to the trailhead, Neiderprum Trail No. 653.

The trail is extremely steep, lacking such extravagances as switchbacks. After the first two miles the trail becomes tricky to follow; pay attention. Meadows near trail's end may allow for very rough camping. Great views can be had of North Cascades peaks, Whitehorse Peak, and lowlands to the west.

Boulder River

  • bus stop to trailhead 4 miles
  • round trip, trailhead to end 8 miles

Before the CT230 reaches Darrington, about 8 miles west of town (and about 8 miles east of the tiny burg of Oso), be on the lookout for a sign on the right marking the Boulder Falls Road. It's a small sign, and set back well into the trees. Have the driver let you off here. Follow the road about 4 miles in, taking the Boulder Falls Trail to the right. The trail is a delight: easy, gaining only 300 feet in 4 miles, decorated with lots of waterfalls and some fine and rare lowelevation oldgrowth forest. The trail deadends along the river; campsites can be found tucked away among the trees.

Kennedy Hot Springs

  • bus stop to trailhead 21.5 miles
  • round trip, trailhead to hot springs 11 miles
  • one way, trailhead to Holden Village 43 miles
  • one way, trailhead to Stevens Pass 50 miles

From Darrington, head south on Mountain Loop Highway. Starting four-ish, you're not even going to reach trailhead on same day unless you get lucky with hitch. Clear Creek campground just off highway at four miles; White Chuck campground at ten miles.

Head 11 miles up White Chuck Road to trailhead at end. If thought of walking back out same distance depresses you, consider using this route just one way, exiting elsewhere.

Kennedy Hot Springs are quite popular; be glad you're there on weekday. Hang all food securely (even if you're just going for quick dip before dinner): any place this popular has experienced, quick responding, large resident,ii population of varmints.

Springs consists of one pool, six feet cubed, surrounded by rough hewn but stable wooden platform. Sulphurous smelly, brown water, but comfortably warm.

If you can pull yourself out of warm water, walk a few miles uphill to gape at glaciers and wander meadows.

N.B. Resist temptation of quick soak in springs just before leaving. Results of damp, softened feet in boots plus long walk out can be painful, disfiguring.

Forgive writing pattern: just began rereading Moon is a Harsh Mistress, by Bob heinlein. Can't help it.

 

Updated May 2000