Forest roads near Darrington reopen
Published 12:01 am Wednesday, October 12, 2011
DARRINGTON — Many hikers have been waiting years for the chance to get back up to the Meadow Mountain and Crystal Lake trails in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
White Chuck and Rat Pass roads are set to open Wednesday, providing hiker and equestrian access to the mountain trails
as well as a nice route for Sunday drivers.
The roads are maintained by the Darrington Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service. River flooding during the past eight years had washed out portions of the White Chuck River Road.
“The roads are safe for public use,” said district ranger Peter Forbes.
Forbes had predicted in June that repairs to White Chuck River Road would be finished by fall, allowing for a few weeks of hiking from trailheads on that road.
In addition, routine road maintenance also is done, Forbes said.
“These are roads that connect to the Suiattle River Road, creating a scenic loop from the Mountain Loop Highway through the forest and out at Highway 530 just north of Darrington,” he said.
Repairs were funded by the federal Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads.
For updated information, call the Darrington Ranger District at 360-436-1155.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
