Some Seattle-area summer hikes still hard to reach
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The long road back. Photo: Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images
Washington's summer hiking season is ramping up, but many popular recreation areas remain difficult — or impossible — to reach after last winter's flooding and storms caused widespread damage.
Why it matters: Road washouts, fire damage and storm impacts are still limiting access across the Olympics and Cascades, with repair costs likely to run into the tens of millions of dollars, the Seattle Times reports.
Zoom in: Some of the biggest impacts are being felt at destinations familiar to Seattle-area hikers, according to the Times.
- The entrance to Staircase remains closed. The Olympic National Park area near Lake Cushman is still recovering from last year's Bear Gulch Fire, and park officials say visitors should not expect it to fully reopen this year.
- Getting to Blanca Lake in the Henry M. Jackson wilderness is more complicated. Beckler River Road remains closed, affecting vehicle access to one of Washington's most popular alpine lake hikes.
- The Suiattle River Trail remains inaccessible by road. Winter flooding carved a large channel through Suiattle River Road, preventing access to recreation sites and large sections of the Glacier Peak Wilderness.
- Index-Galena Road has new washouts. Snohomish County estimates repairs will cost about $900,000.
- Several upper Methow recreation sites remain inaccessible. Hart's Pass Road is closed because of storm damage, limiting access to Hart's Pass, Slate Peak and multiple Pacific Crest Trail trailheads.
By the numbers: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest has identified roughly 100 road damage sites and more than 100 miles of trails need log-out work, while another 250 miles require maintenance.
The bright spot: Olympic National Park reopened Graves Creek Road in late May, restoring vehicle access to the trailhead used by visitors heading to Enchanted Valley.