Mount Pilchuck (48.057974, -121.797918) History. According to Washington State Parks, the word Pilchuck comes from the Native American name red water, for a creek in the area. Mt. Pilchuck was first climbed in 1897 by Louis Fletcher of the USGS. This first ascent took over 8 hours from the Monte Cristo Railroad because there was no trail back then. In 1909 an access trail was built to the summit along Black Creek then in 1910 a more direct 7-mile trail to the summit was built starting near Robe and using a cable car to cross the Stillaguamish. The first fire camp was established on Pilchuck’s summit in 1917. That same year the Washington Forest Fire Association contributed to the construction of a summit trail led by the Forest Service. Materials for a D-6 cupola lookout were ordered in 1918 and a telephone line was strung up between the summit and Granite Falls. A section of the summit of Pilchuck was blasted off to make room for the lookout, which was built between 1919 and 1921 and first staffed in 1921. There are conflicting historical reports, but the present L-4 ground house was built sometime between 1938 and 1943. Pilchuck was regularly staffed until the 60s. A ski area was operated on Pilchuck between 1957 and 1979 but the area closed in 1980 due to poor annual snow conditions. Some ski lift artifacts are still visible on the mountain along the trail. In the late 1980s the lookout was restored thanks to the efforts of Forrest Clark and the Forest Fire Lookout Association. The lookout is currently maintained in partnership with the Forest Service and Everett Mountaineers. The Forest Service maintains the trail and trailhead while the State Park and the Mountaineers maintain the historic lookout building. In 2021, Washington State Parks estimated 500-700 hikers visited Mount Pilchuck every week during the summer. The route. Distance (RT): 5.4 miles Elevation Gain: 2,300′ Though Mount Pilchuck is certainly one of the busiest trails in the area, don’t be fooled by it’s short approach, which climbs 2,300′ in 2.7 miles. The route is strenuous and requires a little boulder scrambling and short ladder climb to reach the lookout. The boulder climb is straightforward but does require a little extra dexterity and in poor conditions, can be dangerous and slick. There have been search and rescue missions on Pilchuck so do be careful and don’t underestimate the route or weather. In winter, the road is gated, requiring a long approach and technical skills. At the trailhead, I recommend signing in on the register, just in case, then the hike starts through beautiful towering old growth forest. Eventually the trail pops out into a talus field and this is where people have sometimes gotten lost. Just pay attention to the little orange posts that point the way. The trail becomes much more obvious past the initial talus field and also much more rocky, so watch your step! Views start to open up across to Three Fingers and include Glacier and Mount Baker. The fire lookout is perched atop boulders on the summit, so carefully scramble up, then take the final steps up a short ladder to the top. Inside the lookout there are bench seats as well as historical photos and information. It is possible to overnight at Pilchuck but the lookout is often very busy, so plan accordingly. Pilchuck is completely volunteer maintained and receives a huge amount of traffic. Entry is allowed only when the doors are open. Please do not force the door or shutters open if they are closed as this causes significant damage to the lookout and risks the integrity of the structure. 2022-08-12 18:01