Mount Pilchuck Lookout - Hiking in Washington

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This rewarding hike was to the lookout at the summit of Mount Pilchuck, off the Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls, Washington. This very popular hike can be busy year round, as hikers and snowshoers make good use of this state park area. The road leading up to the trailhead is very rough, but manageable for most cars if one drives carefully.
We were quite lucky to have both a clear, sunny, warm day and not many people out on the trail. The trailhead has a good amount of parking, but I'd imagine it would fill up fast on a nice weekend. I'd suggest getting there early in the morning or later in the day, as the sunsets would also be stunning from the top.
The trail is well defined, however there is one hard left turn at the open boulder field that is easy to miss if you happen to be talking and not paying attention like we were. There is even a little sign that we completely missed and ended up scrambling up boulders for far too long, which wasted a lot of time and energy. Don't be like us and stay on the trail!
The higher you climb the more majestic the views become. The elevation is manageable, though it does make you work hard for the last half. During the last little scramble the lookout is within reach, but take the final scramble slow so you don't drop anything or get hurt.
The view from the lookout is worth all the time and work it took to get up there. Views of rivers, lakes, mountains, valleys, towns, the Sound...just about anything you can think of, and that is just the outside of the lookout. Inside, if the lookout is open, there are tons of informational placards discussing the history and construction of the lookout as well as peak identifiers. You can even see the basins of Lake 22 and Heather Lake nearby, though not the lakes themselves. Check out my other videos to see the similarities!
Don't let the milage or elevation dissuade you from this hike. It is beautiful and very rewarding! Thanks for watching, subscribe to my channel and check out some of my other videos!
Alltrails map: www.alltrails....