Rock Climbing & Bouldering
Seattle NorthCountry is in a geographically blessed location in Western Washington, with the Puget Sound on one side of the county, and the Cascade Mountains on the other.
Having the Cascade Mountains in your backyard certainly has its advantages, and climbing is just one of them!
With beautiful alpine peaks, the alpine climbing is incredible. Check out the Glacier Peak Wilderness area. With routes up Glacier Peak, Vesper and Morning Star, you're sure to find a suitable challenge.
For more cragging, Darrington, also up the Mountain Loop Highway, is a great bet for solid slabby granite multi-pitch routes. Dreamer is a ultra-classic, moderate (5.9) trad route on the Green Giant Buttress.
Further south, on Highway 2 is the tiny town of Index, which sits at the base of the Index Town Wall, a 500-foot vertical cliff that has become one of the Northwest's hottest climbing spots and features some of the most technical rock climbing anywhere in Washington State. Because of its southern exposure, the climbing can be good hear even in early spring, when the rain subsides long enough for the sun to dry out the exposed granite routes.
For more information on the rock climbing options and conditions in Snohomish County, call the Darrington Ranger Station at 360-436-1155.