vTrail Three Fingers

Goat Flat-Saddle Lake-Three Fingers 641

Submit Update
August 22, 2003 Update

Ranger's Report

Weather

Road Condition

Distance:

6.7 miles one way

Hiking Time:

5 hours

Trailhead Elevation:

3000 ft

Elevation Gain:

3850 ft

Season:

June - October

Difficulty:

Strenuous

Rating:

Best - Very Good - Good - Fair

Use:

Moderate

Users:

Hikers

Region:

Darrington Ranger District

Maps:

USGS Meadow Mountain & Whitehorse Mountain
Darrington Ranger District Map

Permits:

Northwest Forest Pass is required

Driving Directions:

From Seattle take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 East for 2.3 miles, stay in left lane, go to Lake Stevens Highway 204 East, in 2.2 miles take left (north) on Highway 9 to Lake Stevens, in 1.7 miles take right (east) on Highway 92 to Granite Falls, in 8.4 miles turn left (north) to Mountain Loop Highway, follow the Highway to milepost 7.1. Turn left to road #41 (look for Green Mountain Road sign). In 1.7 miles gravel road starts. Go strait through the junction. Follow the road. Look for trailhead on the left and parking on the right in 17.4 miles (from MLH).

Trailhead:

Small parking, no campsites, no water (water is on the trail in about 0.5 mile), no toilet.

Trail:

The trail climbs gradually for 2.5 miles to Saddle Lake

. Right before the lake there is a junction with Meadow Mountain Trail #715. The lake is not very big, but quite beautiful. Along the east side of the lake the trail leads to the shelter build by Everett Mountaineers back in 1970s. No camping is allowed within 200 feet of the lake. No campfires are allowed from Saddle Lake to Three Fingers. From the northeast side of the lake the trail continues on to Goat Flat (about 2.5 miles)

. It again starts with a climb, enters meadows that offer views of surrounding mountains and continues to climb gradually. At Goat Flat near the remains of an old shelter

there is a junction where left fork leads to campsites and backcountry toilet, and right one continues to Three Fingers (about 2 miles) through Tin Can Gap. From this point climbing gear and experience are needed. As you ascend from the ridge make sure you do not go up, but look for a trail going to the right and South side of the hill

. The trail switchbacks through rocks and crosses several snow fields

, climbs the ridge again and crosses onto Northwest slope where for some time it follows the glacier and present a challenge. Then it again crosses onto South slope over another snow field and switchbacks up to the last snow field going straight up

. A last short climb up and a little left on the rock brings you to famous ladders

. Use them to go up to the lookout

. If you plan to stay in lookout for some time and you may need water, make sure you have it with you before going up the ladders, or you may end up returning just to climb up again.