Driving White Chuck Ridge Road, photo by Martha Rasmussen
Driving White Chuck Ridge Road, photo by Martha Rasmussen

White Chuck Ridge Drive

The White Chuck Road Drive is a roller-coaster ride of steep ups and downs with views you’ll never forget!  What you will see are some of the most beautiful mountains and alpine meadows in the United States.  This road as several steep climbs so be sure your car is up to this type of driving, a 4×4 or all wheel drive with good wheel clearance and good tires.  Using lower gears will be better for your vehicle and better for the forest road.

One way to get to White Chuck Ridge is to drive south from Darrington on the Mountain Loop Highway about 9 miles. Turn left crossing the bridge over the White Chuck River, this will put you on Forest Service Road #022 and passing the boat launch where there is a restroom.  Continuing past the boat launch you will start your way up Gold Hill. Drive up this road for about 3 miles, coming to an intersection, to the left Forest Service Road #22 drops down to the Sauk River and Cougar Hollow, keep to your right toward Forest Service Road #24.

Continue your drive up Gold Hill for about 4 miles when you come to Forest Service Road #2430 on the right, drive this about .5 miles and you will see Forest Service Road #2435, White Chuck Ridge Road, on your right.

Now the 6 mile roller-coaster ride begins going up to White Chuck Ridge.  White Chuck Peak will grow nearer and nearer as you drive.  Take some time to stop for the views, also keep an eye on the thermostat gauge.   Just as you are reaching the end of the drive, you will come to a wide spot in the road with plenty of room to pull over.  There is panoramic views of the mountains in all directions, White Chuck Peak looming in the east, Mt Baker to the north, Sloan Peak to the south with Whitehorse Mountain to the west.  This is a great place to take your time and enjoy a tailgate picnic.

Driving beyond this point you will see a short road to the right, FSR #2435-020, which is where the White Chuck Ridge User Trail is accessed from, even more amazing than the drive to it!  There is limited parking here.  Continuing to the left, is Forest Service Road #2435, the road gets brushy and over grown, however makes a scenic walk to beautiful alpine meadows.  This may be one of the most scenic forest road drives in Washington!

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