Boulder River Trail: WTA Work Party

Darrington Ranger District
This work party starts at 8:30AM

Hwy 530 near Darrington. You'll find old growth trees, moss-covered logs, the sound of the river, and spectacular waterfalls along this trail. We'll address any repairs that the trail main have sustained during the winter along with annual maintenance, including clearing and drainage maintenance.

The trail, built in the 1930's to service the fire lookout on Three Fingers, used to run over Tupso Pass and down Canyon Creek to the South Fork Stillaguamish. Some of the old puncheon can still be found. The Tupso Pass area was clear-cut in the 1960's and the trail between the pass and Boulder Ford was abandoned. There are no mountain vistas, so a sunny day is as good as a cloudy one for views. For the first 3/4 mile, the trail follows an abandoned railroad logging grade through virgin forest. At 1 1/4 miles it passes a double waterfall plunging into the river. This is a good spot for a picnic. In another 1/4 mile there is a second waterfall, and the trail proceeds along the valley, in forest and within sound of the river at all times. The trail ends abruptly at Boulder Ford, 4 1/2 miles in and at an elevation of 1600 feet.

Driving directions:
From the Seattle area drive north on I-5 to exit 208 (Arlington/Silvana). Drive east on Highway 530 through Arlington and continue an additional 19.8 miles and take the first right beyond (east of) milepost marker 41, onto French Creek Road. At 4 miles the road ends at the Boulder River trailhead. (Driving time from Seattle: approximately 1.75 hours, including 4 miles of gravel roads.)