Granite Falls

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.

Features a 2.7 mi trail to the top of Mount Pilchuck, the most prominent peak in the area at 5324 ft, with breathtaking views in all directions.

5.4 mi round-trip, 1350 ft gain. A popular day hike through old growth forest to an alpine lake. The trailhead fills up early.

At the bottom of Big Four Mountain's steep, 4,200 ft face, debris piles from avalanches are able to remain year round because of continuous shade provided by the mountain. During the summer, snow-melt streams flow beneath the debris piles and cause caves to be formed in the ice. This ice forms the lowest-elevation glacier in the lower 49 states. Parking is available in a paved lot. An easy 45-minute hike leads to the ice caves which can be viewed from a lookout.

The paved road ends at this 2,362 ft pass. There is a trailhead to Monte Cristo.

An ghost town, active as a mining area for gold and silver from 1889 to 1907, and later as a resort town until 1983. Many century-old structures still stand, including the railway turntable. The decommissioned road to the townsite is a 8 mi round-trip hiking and biking trail.