Swauk Forest Discovery Trail
Larches showing off brilliant fall colors
20 this month · 47 reports
Central Cascades
The Iron Bear - Teanaway Ridge trail is in good condition, with no snow reported. The road access is generally passable, though some reports mention rough sections requiring slow driving or high clearance vehicles, particularly near the trailhead. One dry creek crossing is noted as potentially tricky but manageable with care. Fall colors and larches are present, with some reports indicating they are nearing peak or just beginning to turn yellow as of October 21 and October 11. Parking availability varies, with the main lot filling up by midday on weekends, but roadside parking is often an option. Hikers should be aware of hunters in the area due to the ongoing season and wear bright colors.
Generated from 40 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 2 weeks ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
The road to the trailhead is generally passable but can be rough, especially in the final miles. Some reports from October 24 and October 21 mention needing to drive slowly due to ruts and rough patches. High clearance vehicles are recommended by some, though others have managed with standard cars.
There is a dry creek crossing reported just before the trailhead, which can be a bit tricky but is manageable with slow driving as noted on October 21 and October 3. Further into the trail, one report from October 11 mentions a water crossing a little over a mile in, which was good for a dog.
Fall colors and larches are visible along the trail. Reports from October 21 suggest they were at peak or just starting to turn yellow. Another report from October 11 also mentions larches and stunning lighting with a dusting of snow at the top. Reports from early October (October 4 and October 3) indicated that peak color was still a week or two away.
Parking can be limited, especially on weekends. The main trailhead lot was full by midday on October 24. However, roadside parking and turnouts are often available along the road, as noted on October 11.
Larches showing off brilliant fall colors
20 this month · 47 reports
Larches burn bright on a scorched ridge
2 this month · 22 reports
Golden cottonwoods offer a short walk
1 this month · 32 reports
The lookout is closed for the season
1 this month · 20 reports
Limited snow cover, melting fast
19 reports
Fall colors are muted, road conditions vary
Stevens Pass - East · 12 this month · 113 reports
Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Until the last 200 yards prior to the first parking spaces, the 3 mile forest road drive in was stellar. Then we got rougher tumblers that you need to take slowly to avoid scraping the bottom of your ...
Very few people or cars on this trail in late October. The road was better than expected for a Forest Service road, except for the dry creek crossing right before the trailhead. Made it across that in...
Just a few cars parked at the trailhead at 10:30. The dry creek crossing was a bit tricky but do-able in the Leaf. High clearance vehicles won't have any trouble.We hiked to Iron Bear, Jester, Joker, ...
Got away from the crowds and stayed closer to Seattle but still got to see larches and fall color hiking Iron Bear. Larches will be peaking in a week or two.Some really deep rutting as you approach th...
Arrived at trailhead parking lot on a Monday at 11am. 2 cars had parked before the (dry) creek crossing, plus two other cars at the trailhead lot. Plenty of available parking. Trailhead lot was nearly...
Lucky day for me! the trail has just a few muddy spots, had gotten a bit of a snow dusting at the top. stunning lighting. some far clouds prevented the complete views but still great. chilly at the to...
Parking:No pass needed, and any car could make it up the road I arrived around 10am and parked along the road in a turnout by a dispersed camping site. Turns out you can drive right up to the trailhea...
Beautiful day and we saw zero other people! Fall colors and great views. Hiked past view area and tagged Jester Mountain and scoped the larches. Small ones yellow and bigger lime green so prob week...
I started today at about 7:45 am and there were no other vehicles in the parking area. The trail is dry and there is plenty of fall color popping along the way. Saw lots of chipmunks and squirrels tod...
We did a Miller Peak - Iron Bear loop from the Miller Peak TH. Hiking Miller and finishing on the Iron Bear Trail back to the TH was definitely the right way to do this loop; saving the gentle, pleasa...