Evergreen Mountain Trail and Lookout

Evergreen Mountain is one of the easiest big views in the region. With a lookout on the summit, you'll be amazed you did not spend all day hiking there. Add in some amazing wild flowers and some nice old growth forests and you have got a great family trail. For years, the Evergreen Mountain Trail was inaccessible for most because a series of washouts on the access road. They were repaired in 2011 and the trail is now back in action...for now. Did I mention the 360-degree vista of surrounding peaks like Glacier Peak, Fernow, Spire, Bear and all the Monte Cristo Range!

From State Route 2, turn north onto the Beckler River Road #65, which is 0.5 mile east of the Skykomish turn. Follow the Beckler River Road for 8.6 miles to the 5 way junction at Jack Pass. (Pavement ends 5.6 miles after leaving Hwy 2). At Jack Pass, turn right onto Road #6550 and drive about 0.9 miles to Road #6554. Turn left and follow it for 6.5 miles to its end at a large parking and trailhead.

The steepest part of the trail is the first 5 minutes. After that it switchbacks up the mountain. After a half mile or so, the trail leaves a young forest area going into some nice old growth. Before you know it, it leaves the forest to climb the final flower meadows just before the summit. A final short airy ridge takes you to the summit lookout. Evergreen Lookout is now under the cabin and lookout rental program at recreation.gov. The lookout will be locked unless it is rented out.

On August 14, 1934, panoramic photos were taken from the lookout. The images show an established phone line, many topped trees to improve the view and the walls of the lookout cab in a pile, ready for construction (and the upcoming winter).

In 1935, the L-4 cab was built.

In the 1940s, Ellis and Faye Ogilvie were lookouts. They met through a conversation over a two-way radio while they served as lookouts at Evergreen and Surprise Mountain. A short time later they wed and served together as the lookouts on Evergreen Mountain. During World War II, Evergreen Mountain was used as an Aircraft Warning Station. Ellis Ogilvie once said that Evergreen Mountain was named wrong and that it should have been called Everblack. The last big fire spotted on Evergreen Mountain, the Evergreen Fire in 1967, was inadvertently set by loggers during a timber operation on the south side of the mountain and burned the rocky south face of the ridge to within several hundred feet of the lookout.

In the 1990s, the lookout was restored.

In the early 1980s was the last staffing year.

In 1990 a local volunteer group adopted Evergreen Mountain Lookout and began restoration efforts. During restoration it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2000, the restoration was completed. The 14 x 14-foot lookout is comfortably furnished with one twin-sized bed and mattress, 3 extra mattresses, table, step stool, 6 folding chairs, twin burner propane stove, and 2 twin mantle propane lanterns. A wallow-wallow toilet (outhouse) is located several hundred feet down the ridge from the lookout. Water is not available at the site. It is available on the Recreation Rental program.