Lookout and Trail Maintenance • Mt. Pilchuck Lookout

Description: This lookout, restored by the Everett Branch of the Mountaineers, is on the summit (5,340') of Mt. Pilchuck. It is the only structure (except for the outhouse by the parking lot) in the otherwise undeveloped Mt. Pilchuck State Park.

Directions:

Route: A maintained trail starts (3,760') at end of FS road 42 and ends at the lookout. Caution: Snow stays on the northern exposures until late spring-summer and makes certain areas dangerous to those without proper equipment and training. The upper portion of the trail is much more exposed to the inclement weather. We have seen some quite uncomfortable tee-shirt clad hikers unprepared for 30 m.p.h. winds and horizontal ice rind on the summit.

Reference:

Maps: A progression of USGS and USFS maps show the historical development around the lookout. Colors have been used to highlight select, man-made features of interest. Blue = items spanning the years. Lime green = items missing in later years. Red = items appearing in later years. Brown = trails or railroads that become roads (after a fashion). Purple = trails that are known to exist but are missing on the maps (locations approximate). The coloring is by no means comprehensive. By some bizarre coincidence the old and new Forest Service maps were at the same scale and thus could be superimposed to create a composite.

A composite of USFS Mt.Baker-Snoqualamie National Forestmaps, 1962 and 1989.

The USGS Stilaguamish, 30', 1899 map does not show the Mt. Pilchuck because it hadn't been built. Note the early spelling of Stillaquamish. The Northern Pacific Railroad, Monte Cristo spur can be seen in the Stilaguamish valley. The road up the South Fork of the Stilaguamish ended before Gold Basin (a real place then). Most curious is the absence of Lake 22 at the head of Twentytwo Creek. On modern maps it is at least twice as big Pinnacle or Bear Lakes. Was a damming in its future?

The USGS Stilaguamish, 30', 1946 map is not much different than the 1899 map. The railroad is now abandoned. Lake 22 is now on the map but it is tiny. Actually, Lake 22 first appeared on the 1901 reprint of the 1899 map.

The USGS Granite Falls, 15', 1956 map shows the Mt. Pilchuck Lookout and two trails to it! The one is green is the long lost trail to the Sultan Basin. Gone is the railroad and the Mountain Loop Highway runs up the South Fork of the Stillaguamish. Logging roads appear to the south of the lookout and to the northwest. Look how Lake Twentytwo has grown to its current size. Verlot now is a place. The one red logging road is symbolic of the numerous roads currently on the west side of the summit.

USGS Verlot, 7.5', 1989 maps show the lookout and only one trail to it. Some time between 1956 and 1989, the Mt. Pilchuck Ski Resort came and went with the scarcity of trees to the NNW of the summit being its legacy. The current trail slightly deviates from that shown on the 1989 map. Portions of the trail were re-routed in the 2000-2001 to reduce erosion.

History:

Images:

Activity: LOTM does maintenance each year on the Lookout.