Hikeoftheweek.com

Quick Facts

Location: Mountain Loop Highway

Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Roundtrip: 4.0 miles

Elevation Gain: 160 feet

Green Trails Map: Green Trails, Sloan Peak, WA - no. 111

Contact: Darrington Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (360) 436-1155; www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/

Access: From Darrington follow Mountain Loop Highway for 9.0 miles. Turn left onto FR 22 and proceed for 0.8 mile to trailhead.

Chinook for whitewater, the appropriately named White Chuck River has certainly lived up to its name. In 2003 the river furiously displayed a bout of white water which flooded the valley leaving riverside forest groves and the paralleling White Chuck Bench Trail in shambles. The administering Forest Service, its operating budget also in shambles had no funding to repair the trail and damaged access roads leading to its trailheads. It appeared that the popular low-country White Bench Trail would be yet another casualty to nature and budget cuts.

Recently however, a new bridge on FR 22 was built over the White Chuck River once again opening access to this wonderful trail. Volunteers and the Forest Service have gradually been restoring the trail since, clearing brush and repairing damaged tread. Currently 2.0 miles of the 6.5 mile trail are again hikeable!

But, don’t wait for the entire trail to reopen before checking it out—head over to the White Chuck Bench Trail now and enjoy wonderful winter wandering. The way is nearly level following along a bench above the wild waterway. Wind through remnant patches of old growth and plenty of groves of attractive cedars, alder, cottonwood and fir. Enjoy too, glimpses out to Mount Pugh and White Chuck Mountain towering above.

At about 1.5 miles the trail makes a bend at a bluff high above the river providing excellent viewing of the valley and turbulent White Chuck River. It is possible to continue for another half mile before the tread vanishes. But at this point you can venture out onto a wide gravel bed and enjoy the whitewater of White Chuck up close and personal. Eventually the trail will be reopened in its entirety, but for now rejoice that the first two miles have been restored allowing explorations once more to this wild and scenic river valley!

For information on lodging and other attractions near the White Chuck Bench Trail, visitwww.snohomish.org