Green Mountain Lookout

The Glacier Peak Wilderness opens up to jaw-dropping, 360-degree view of jutting peaks and deep valleys from the Green Mountain Lookout northeast of Darrington. Follow a strenuous four-mile trail through scented woods and lush meadows in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest to the summit of Green Mountain. In spring, enjoy an impressive wildflower show. In fall, vibrant red and orange huckleberry frame the view around every corner. The lookout was built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is one of a few lookouts still used by the U.S. Forest Service as an administrative site. While the lookout building is locked and unavailable for public use, the views from the lookout’s perch on the mountain are still impressive!  

8.5-mile roundtrip trek

Directions: The trail enters Glacier Peak Wilderness before dropping 100 feet to a pair of small tarns. Look up to Green Mountain Lookout from here, some 1,300 feet and one trail mile above. If you’re tempted to turn around at this point, don’t. You’ll miss the best part. The road to Green Mountain is long. Plan on spending 60 to 90 minutes driving from Darrington.  From Darrington travel north on State Route 530 for 7.5 miles, turning right onto Forest Road 26 (Suiattle River Road). Follow FR 26 first on pavement, then on gravel for 19 miles, turning left onto FR 2680. Continue six miles to the trailhead. No pass required. Check road conditions beforehand.