At the trails end all you need to do is scramble up this jumble of granite boulders to access the historic fire lookout at the summit of Mount Pilchuck. The forest road to the trailhead is just under a mile from Verlot on the Mountain Loop Highway. With 2, 234 feet of elevation gain over 6 miles round trip navigating a steep and rocky trail it’s a strenuous hike, but worth it. Mount Pilchuck, at 5, 324 feet, has one of the last operational fire lookout towers in the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. On a clear day the views are spectacular and one can see the volcanoes Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Glacier Peak as well as a host of other mountains.
