Beaver Lake

Beaver Lake 629

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Ranger's Report

Weather

Road Condition

River Level

Distance:

3 miles one way

Hiking Time:

1.5 hour

Trailhead Elevation:

900 ft

Elevation Gain:

+300 ft

Season:

May - November

Difficulty:

Easy

Rating:

Best - Very Good - Good - Fair

Use:

Light

Users:

Hikers

Region:

Darrington Ranger District

Maps:

USGS White Chuck
Darrington Ranger District Map
Printable Topo Map

Permits:

Northwest Forest Pass is required

Driving Directions:

From Seattle take I-5 North to Exit 208 to Highway 530 East to Arlington. Follow Highway for 32 miles to the intersection with Mountain Loop Highway in Darrington. Turn right and follow the road for 8.7 miles (milepost 6). Look for Beaver Lake Trail sign on the right. Turn right, trailhead is in 0.1 mile.

Trailhead:

Big parking, no campsites, no toilet. Water - there is river close to the trailhead.

Trail:

The trail goes along an old railroad

and in 1.5 mile comes to a bridge between two ponds. This area is a great place to observe wildlife - mallards, wood ducks, blue herons, and beavers. As of summer of 1999 there was a sign "bridge is structurally unsafe" and the trail was officially closed. If you continue further in about 2 miles there is a wash-out above a steep slope that can be very dangerous especially if wet. In about 2.5 miles the trail brings you to the site of the Sauk Ranger Station that was build in 1916. There is a cedar tree

that served as a fire lookout at that time. You can get to this point also from the Mountain Loop Highway at milepost 9, hiking for about 0.3 mile down the hill.