Adding to Mount Pilchuck’s popularity is the ease of access: the trailhead is less than two hours from Seattle. While the trailhead requires driving up a rough gravel road to reach it, that rough drive saves about 3,300 feet of climbing that you no longer have to hike. Score!

The trail to the summit isn’t very well marked, but if you follow the route as mapped here, you should reach the summit easily. At one point about a mile in, you’ll reach a scree field. “Do not attempt to scramble upward,” says Dempsey. Instead, follow the orange markers to traverse through the boulder field and return to the trail.

While the hike may be moderate by some standards, the upper sections of the hike are very rocky and can be a little exposed. If the weather turns sour, this hike can get a little sketchy. During the winter, hikers often wander off trail and get lost, and subsequently need to be rescued. While this may be a popular hike, route finding skills and awareness of your surroundings are still highly recommended.

Sources: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mount-pilchuck https://www.outsideonline.com/2404959/6-great-hikes-do-seattle