Path Cleared for New Trail in Wild Sky Wilderness
The project will create new hiking opportunities in the wilderness area, adapting to the increasing demand for family-friendly and ADA-accessible trails.
- The orange arrow illustrates the approximate future location of the Alpine Falls Trail on Green Trails Map 175.
Plans have been approved to add new trails to the Wild Sky Wilderness! The Alpine Falls and Frog Mountain Trail Construction Project was approved in late October of 2016. This project will create new day hiking opportunities in the wilderness area, adapting to the increasing demand for family-friendly and ADA-accessible trails.
Wild Sky Wilderness is nestled within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, north of Highway 2 in the West Cascades and is only 25 miles from Puget Sound. The area is home to dozens of alpine lakes and, on its highest peaks, offers an opportunity to take in a panorama of both Glacier Peak and Mount Rainier.
The Alpine Falls Trail will be located along Highway 2, just six miles outside of the town of Skykomish. This will be an ADA-accessible trail leading to a viewpoint of the falls. The Frog Mountain Trail will be a roughly four-mile path to the mountain's summit. Located on the Beckler River Road, the Frog Mountain Trail will provide an alternative option to popular hikes nearby including the beloved Beckler Peak and Evergreen Mountain Lookout trails.
Washington's newest wilderness is in need of trails
The 106,000 acre landscape was designated as a wilderness area in 2008 and a trails plan was released in 2011 with the Alpine Falls and Frog Mountain trails listed as high priority projects. Wild Sky was Washington's first new wilderness area since 1984. The recreation community has expressed a desire to see more trails in the wilderness. Currently, most of the trail system exists along the edge of the area.
In 2014, thirteen conservation and recreation groups in Washington, including WTA, sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service supporting these two new trails. A start date for construction has not yet been announced.
More information on the Frog Mountain and Alpine Falls trails can be found on the Forest Service's project page.
Comments
Cascadian Hiker on Path Cleared for New Trail in Wild Sky Wilderness
I've been eagerly awaiting word of work beginning on these new trails. This is my favorite stomping grounds for work parties and I'm really hoping to be involved with both trail. Has anyone heard anything new yet?
Posted by:
Aaron Outdoors on May 07, 2017 09:30 PM
onewhohikes on Path Cleared for New Trail in Wild Sky Wilderness
These two trails have not been built yet and not sure when since it is way after the starting date.
Posted by:
onewhohikes on Jan 25, 2019 06:06 AM