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Highway
Mile
Markers
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Miles
From
Exit 208
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The Mountain Loop
Highway (Forest Service Highway 20) is
classified as a National Forest Scenic Byway
 The Mountain Loop Highway is probably the
most concentrated area in the State of Washington for day hike trails,
campgrounds, and hiking activities.
Many of the trails in this area are through old growth forest.
Map of
Mountain Loop Highway
Although our Mountain Loop Highway
Loop begins at Interstate-5 Exit 208 on WA-530; Highway-530 actually begins
in Stanwood, WA and the Junction with I-5 is on
WA-503 mile 17. We display the mile
posts on the highway for a point of reference as you travel and have our
own mileage system to show total miles traveled on the loop.
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WA-530
Mile 17
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Our Mtn. Loop Hwy.
Mile 0
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Interstate-5 Exit 208 / Arlington
/ WA-530
At this exit there are several restaurants and fuel.
Take WA-530 east to Arlington and then on to Darrington.
Our policy is to route from the north to the south
so our loop will begin at Interstate-5 Exit 208 (Arlington, WA).
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WA-530
Mile 21
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Mile 4
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The City of Arlington,
WA
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Mile 5
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Arlington
Heights Road (To
Granite Falls)
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WA-530
Mile 32
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Mile 16.1
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The small village of Oso / Lake Cavanaugh Road
This gravel road to the left (north)
is Deer Creek Road. It is about 6 mi. long and goes over the
mountain to Lake
Cavanaugh. The road is gravel but well maintained
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WA-530
Mile 38
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Mile 22.3
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View Point at
N. Fork of Stillaguamish
River
 You will see the display structure
shown in the photo to the right on the left (north side) of the
highway. A map of the river is
displayed and a view of the river is behind the display. This is a favorite swimming hole of the
locals in the summer.
There are no toilet facilities or tables here.
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WA-530
Mile 40
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Mile 24.7
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 French Creek Road (National Forest Road 2010) – Turn
right (south) onto NF Road 2010 and travel 3.7 miles up the road to the
trailhead for the Bolder River Trail #734.
This 4 mile long trail only rises 400 feet over its length and
follows what seems to be an old logging roadbed. This is a great family hiking trail that
is very busy on summer weekends. You
will find second growth forest for the first 2 miles and then enter old
growth forest.
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WA-530
Mile 44
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Mile 28.4
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Squire Creek Campground – There are 30
drive-through sites for trailers or RVs up to 25 feet long. Piped water and
sewer hookups are available. No reservations. Open mid-April to mid-October.
Location: 41415 State Road 530, Arlington
Contact: 360-436-1283
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WA-530
Mile 47
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Mile 32
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 The City of Darrington, WA – This mill and logging town in the
Cascade Mountain Range foothills was originally an overnight stop for
wagons headed from Puget Sound to the
mines in the Monte Cristo area.
Today the city has a population of around 1300. There are limited tourist facilities in
the city.
When you visit this community you
really feel like you are in the mountains with 6854 ft. high Three Fingers
Mountain to the southwest, the 5202
foot Mt. Higgins to the northwest, and
the 6935 foot high White Chuck Mountain to the east. The city is located in the Sauk River valley. The Sauk
River is a tributary of the Skagit River. This area was the exclusive home of the
Sauk and Suiattle tribes until the miners and then the loggers arrived in
the late 1800’s.
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National Forest
Mountain Loop
Highway mile 55
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Mile 32.7
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Jct. WA-530 with Mountain
Loop Highway
You come to a stop sign here.
Turn left to continue on WA-530 to
Rockport
Turn right to
Mountain Loop Highway
– at this point you are 55 miles from Granite Falls via the Mountain Loop Highway
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Mtn Loop
Mile 52
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Mile 35.7
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South City
Limit of Darrington
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Mtn. Loop
Mile 51
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Mile 34.5
Mile 35
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Clear Creek Campground
Open late May to early September. There are 12 campsites.. Reservations 1-877-444-6777 or http://www.reserveusa.com
Clear Creek Bridge
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Mtn. Loop
Marker 50
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Mile 36
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Old Sauk Trail #728
Trailhead (on left side of road)
4 mi. to Darrington / 27 miles to Verlot Public Service
Center
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Mtn Loop
Mile 49
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Mile 37
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NF Road 2070 on right (west)
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Mtn. Loop
Mile 45
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Mile 41
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Road 2080 (on right) go to Road 2081 then Road
2086. The trailhead for Peek-A-Boo
Trail #656 is up this road. Travel
about 0.5 mi. from trailhead on an old logging road and then you enter old
growth forest.
Go to our Peek-A-Boo Trail page for more information.
(9 mi. to Darrington)
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Mtn. Loop
Mile 44
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Mile 41.3
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Sauk River Bridge
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Mile 41.5
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Beaver Lake
Trail #629 – Across
Sauk River bridge on Right (west) is the 0.2 mi. road to the Trailhead –
This trail follows an old railroad grade.
In the first 1.5 mi. you will find beaver ponds. In the next 1.5 miles you will enter old
growth forest. Visit our Beaver Lake Trail page.
White Chuck Boat Launch on east side
of highway is closed due to storm damage
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Mile 41.7
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White Chuck Road #23 ( second left
after Bridge)
Road and Trails beyond closed until further notice due to storm
damage 1.7 mi. from Mtn. Loop Highway (as of July 2004) Repairs scheduled for 2008.
10 mi. to Darrington
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***
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End of Blacktop
roadway – from here road is gravel.
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Mile 46.7
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Sloan Creek Road #49
North
Fork Sauk Falls Trail #660 – This 0.2 mile trail drops about 100 feet
to the falls. There is no old growth
forest but the falls are worth the short hike.
Red
Mountain Trail #651
North Fork Sauk Trail #649
17 mi. to Darrington
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Mt. Loop
Mile 37
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Mile 49.1
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 Bedal Campground – This forest service campground is
mainly for tenting. Only smaller RV’s
or trailers can be accommodated in the camp sites. Open late May to early September. It has 18 camp sites and takes
reservations.
Reservations 1-877-444-6777 or http://www.reserveusa.com
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Mtn.Loop
Mile 36
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Mile 50
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Road from here
to Mile 53 opened on Oct. 26, 2007
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Elliot Creek Road #4080 (on the left)
(No accessible to vehicles)
22.0 miles to Darrington / 22.8 miles to Verlot Public
Service Center
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Mtn. Loop
Mile 31
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Mile 53
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Road reopened
Oct. 26, 2007.
End of Gravel Roadway.
Pavement begins at Barlow Pass
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Mtn.Loop
Mile 30
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Mile 54
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Barlow
Pass Elevation 2,361 feet above sea
level - |
