The Mountain Loop Highway (officially, Forest Route 20) is a two-lane, 52-mile, partially paved highway in the United States that connects the towns of Granite Falls, Washington to Darrington, Washington. Almost the entire highway traverses the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Despite its name, the highway itself does not form a full loop but does, however, connect to State Routes 92, 9, and 530 to create a longer, total loop. The unpaved section of the highway is annually closed in November or December, depending on weather, and generally reopens in May.

On sunny days between May and September, the Mountain Loop Highway offers a pleasant, day-long summer drive for outdoor photographers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts.

Understand

See also: Washington state

Ringing a series of interesting geographic features known as "the interior", the Mountain Loop Highway is jointly maintained by Snohomish County and the United States Forest Service. Established in 1936 from a series of disconnected, primitive wagon roads that once linked remote mining and logging settlements in the area, construction on the route was completed in 1941. The highway was closed during World War II and, again, from 2003 to 2007 due to torrential rains that destroyed large sections of the road.

The Mountain Loop Highway encircles several geographic features, including Whitehorse Mountain (pictured).

Today the Mountain Loop Highway is largely used as a scenic drive and to access trailheads in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The highway also serves as a "backdoor" evacuation route for Darrington, which is outwardly connected by only one other road. The town could be threatened by an eruption of nearby Glacier Peak, one of five active stratovolcanoes in Washington.

Plans to complete the unpaved section of the highway in the 1980s, 1990s and 2010s met with local opposition and approximately a third of the road remains unimproved to this day.

Prepare

• Camping (Car) - If you would like to make this more than a day trip, several campgrounds maintained by the U.S. Forest Service are located along the Mountain Loop Highway. However, a more pleasant and solitary experience can be had by taking advantage of one of several dozen unmarked (but easily identifiable), roadside, unimproved campsites. The Mountain Loop Highway receives no traffic after dusk, and these single-tent sites along the Suiattle River offer a more intimate and remote setting than the parceled slips of the improved campgrounds. Unimproved sites are free, however, fill-up fast on summer weekends.
• Camping (Backcountry) - Backcountry camping is permitted for those hiking into the interior.
• Fires - Firewood can be purchased from XXXXXX.
• Fuel - There are no gas stations between Granite Falls and Darrington. Persons planning to travel the entire stretch of highway should have adequate fuel to make the journey.
• Parking - Parking at any location along the Mountain Loop Highway (including at roadside, trailheads, or paved parking lots) requires the display of a United States Interagency Annual Pass ($80 online, valid for unlimited use at all United States National Parks, National Forests, and National Monuments for one-year), a Northwest Forest Pass ($30 online, valid for unlimited use at all United States National Forests in the states of Washington and Oregon for one-year), or, a National Forest Recreation Day Pass ($5 online and valid on one self-selected day only). Passes are not required for short-term parking at designated scenic outlooks.
• Phone service - It is generally not possible to receive a cellular telephone signal between Granite Falls and Darrington.

Get in

While this trip may be taken from either of two directions, this itinerary describes driving from Granite Falls to Darrington.

To reach Granite Falls, and the start of the Mountain Loop Highway, drive north from Seattle along Interstate 5, exiting north of Everett on U.S. Highway 2. Follow U.S. Highway 2 to the east and continue to Washington State Route 204 which becomes Washington State Route 9. Continue on State Route 9 for approximately 1.75 miles and then turn right onto Washington State Route 92, commonly called the Granite Falls Highway. Follow this into Granite Falls, where it turns into Stanley Street. From Stanley Street, turn left onto Alder Avenue and then drive north approximately 0.25 miles. On your right side you will see Granite Falls Middle School. It is here that Alder Avenue becomes the Mountain Loop Highway. Continue following it to Darrington.

Drive

The first 1.5 miles of Mountain Loop Highway takes you through the residential outskirts of Granite Falls. The town limits end approximately at the 1 Granite Falls Fish Ladder. When it was built in 1954, the fish ladder was the world's longest vertical-baffle fish ladder. There is a small, gravel lot next to a staircase that leads down to the fish ladder. Park here and venture down to see both the ladder, and the shallow, rock falls for which the town was named.

You will next pass the single-lane bridge to 2 Silverton, a small, residential settlement with no business, or other retail services. Two miles beyond Silverton, a highway exit on the right side of the road leads to the 1 Big Four Ice Caves. Parking is available in a paved lot while a short and easy, 45-minute hike leads to the ice caves which can be viewed from a terminal lookout. The final stop before coming to the unimproved portion of the Mountain Loop Highway is the abandoned town of 2 Monte Cristo. If you'd like to make the trek to Monte Cristo, you'll need to park on the shoulder of the road. The trail to the townsite is eight miles, round-trip.

The Monte Cristo townsite pictured in 2014

Stay safe

The Monte Cristo and Big Four trails are well-traveled, however, the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest abuts a black bear habitat and there are chances of encountering a bear on lesser-traveled trails. There have been fewer than a dozen bear attacks in Washington in the last century, however, hikers should take reasonable precautions such as traveling in groups of two or more, or, when not possible, carrying 2-percent capsaicinoid bear repellent. For travelers unfamiliar with bear safety, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's website offers some practical guidance.

If visiting the Big Four Ice Caves, do not attempt to leave the trail to enter the caves themselves. Entering the ice caves, which are extremely unstable, is illegal. Sudden cave-ins have taken several lives since 2010.

While only a portion of the highway is paved, it is easily navigable by any vehicle and four-wheel drive is not necessary. However, motorcyclists should exercise extreme caution due to the unimproved nature of portions of the road.

Go next

Arriving in Darrington, continue along State Route 520, which turns into State Route 20, and ultimately connects to Interstate 5. This scenic drive is an additional 55 miles but travels a paved road with a standard speed limit and will be faster than attempting to return the way you came. At I-5 you can drive north for about an hour to arrive at the United States-Canadian border, or, south for an hour to return to Seattle. Alternatively, stay on State Route 20 and continue driving west for 35 minutes to go to Anacortes.