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Hike 9/15 Suntop Lookout / Skookum Flats
Sunday, September 15, 6:30 AM - 4:30 PM
5 miles, 500 feet elevation gain.
Meet at Everett Station Park & Ride Lot --
A
This is a double feature trip that will visit the White River area off Highway 410 just northeast of Mount Rainier National Park. Part One will involve a drive up a steep forest road and then a short hike that leads to a historic lookout cabin at over 5200 feet in altitude. The road actually goes to the lookout, but we'll get out and walk a 0.6-mile trail to get a little exercise and "earn" the views. Suntop Lookout was built in the 1930's, and has recently undergone upgrades to make it accessible to anyone. Volunteers often play host to visitors up there, and can talk about the fire-watchers of the past who were stationed at Suntop. Since the lookout hike is short, we'll add a Part Two, doing an easy hike back down in the valley along White River on the Skookum Flats trail. It features some beautiful forest, plenty of river views, and a small waterfall.
Expected Conditions:
We'll start by driving up a forest service road outside Greenwater that leads to Suntop Lookout. We park at a small trailhead 500 feet below the lookout and hike about a half hour to reach the top (elevation 5271 feet). The trail should be in good shape with no major obstacles. If it's clear, Rainier is in view only about 15 miles away. There are construction efforts underway at the lookout to provide visitors with barrier-free access. Volunteers will probably be on duty to provide information and answer questions. We'll finish up at the lookout, hike the short distance back to the van, and drive a few minutes to the Skookum Flats Trail. This trail is next to the White River, elevation around 2300 feet, mostly very gentle, and should be in good condition. We'll hike 2 miles or so to Skookum Falls, which may or may not be flowing depending on the recent weather. It's really nice in the winter and spring, but late-summer, probably nothing great.
Other Considerations:
Wear good traction hiking shoes or boots for the hikes. Trekking poles may be useful at times, especially for the trek up the 500 feet to Suntop Lookout. You won't need to carry much to the lookout, since it's a short hike and we'll go up and back before lunchtime. Take your pack, along with lunch and water, when we do the Skookum Flats hike. If the weather is poor, it could be quite chilly at Suntop Lookout (elevation 5271 feet), so be prepared