Darrington Ranger District
District at a Glance
Half of this remarkable 570,000-acre area is congressionally designated
as the following three Wilderness areas: Boulder
River, Henry
M. Jackson, and Glacier
Peak. The latter two Wilderness areas are jointly administered
by the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and the Skykomish
Ranger District.
Discover the Verlot Public Service Center, near the South Fork
Stillaguamish River. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC) from 1933 to 1942, Verlot's handsome building's reflect both
the architectural style and fine craftsmanship of that era and are
listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Operating seasonally,
the center's Forest Service and Northwest Interpretive Association
employees will help you plan an outing.
Unique and Special Places
Boom and Bust Along the Mountain Loop
A National Scenic Byway
Linking Darrington with Granite Falls is a roadway now known as
the Mountain
Loop National Scenic Byway, which was first pioneered in 1891
by miners' dreams. Later developed as a road by loggers and members
of the CCC, this road was designated a Scenic Byway in 1991. Today's
roadway passes for 55 miles through boom-and-bust town sites and
abandoned claims, as well as rushing rivers and glacier-clad peaks.
Although the tracks are gone and the daily whistle silenced, today's
traveler can still see remnants of times gone by. With snow lingering
at Barlow Pass through late spring, driving the entire loop is usually
limited to late spring through the fall. The road is paved from
Verlot to Barlow Pass, but is graveled to the town of Darrington.
Mountain Loop Road Reopens
After a four-year effort to repair more than $10 million in damaged roads and bridges, Mountain Loop Scenic Highway opens Oct. 26 to give outdoor enthusiasts access to many of their favorite trails and roads Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
Suiattle Guard Station,
Historic Hand-Split Log Construction
The Suiattle (pronounced "Sue-attle") Guard Station is
located in the Suiattle River drainage. In 1913, Tommy Thompson
was the Assistant Ranger of the Suiattle-Finney District. As a ranger,
one of his tasks was to construct his own station. He used hand-split
shakes and log construction to supplement purchased building materials.
Because of budget limitations, the Forest Service often relied upon
rangers to construct their own stations in this matter. Construction
details on the Suiattle Guard Station, such as the half-dovetail
notching, is a tribute to Ranger Thompson's craftsmanship. As a
testament, the cabin survives to this day as one of the two oldest
administrative buildings in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
The Suiattle Guard Station was placed on the National Register of
Historic Places in 1990, and is currently in the Cabin Rental Program.
For more information, or to make reservations, contact the Darrington
Ranger Station. Also
visit our web page about renting the Suiattle Guard Station.
Big Four Ice
Caves
National
Recreation Trail
This trail is a short, one-mile hike and accommodates walkers of
all ages and abilities. The "caves" form late in the summer,
as warm air flows down-slope and under the snowpack. Tons of ice
and rock may crash to the ground at any time — making the
caves extremely dangerous. Please admire them from a distance.
Note: During flooding in 2006, the bridge to the Ice Caves was washed out and the trail is closed at this time.
Big Four Inn,
An Exclusive Hide-Away
First known as Trout's Marsh homestead, Big Four Mountain lured
the industrious Rucker brothers to cash in on the exquisite scenery
and construct an elaborate 50-room, three-story hotel in 1920. Tennis
courts, a nine-hole golf course, and an artificial lake completed
the grand scene for thousands of guests who arrived by railroad
every summer. Today, only the chimney and sidewalks remain of the
Inn, which burned to the ground in September 1949. However, the
meadow, beaver ponds, and picnic area still attract thousands of
recreationists who wish to enjoy the history and outstanding scenery
that tempted the Rucker brothers many years ago. |