Mailbox Peak

Mailbox Peak is among the steepest day hikes in the Seattle area, rising near North Bend, Washington, to a 4,822 ft summit topped with a mailbox that hikers traditionally sign or decorate. The trailhead is on SE Middle Fork Rd, reached by driving I-90 east to exit 34, heading north on 468th Ave SE and then following SE Middle Fork Rd to the signed lot of roughly 40 spaces. A Discover Pass is required, and the gate follows daylight hours, so hikers should plan to be back before closing. The standard route is about 9.4 miles (15.1 km) round trip with roughly 4,000 ft (1,220 m) of gain, taking five to eight hours. Sustained gradient and the long total ascent place it in the hard category. The newer main trail is a graded path with long switchbacks that climbs steadily through second-growth forest, which keeps most of the lower route shaded. Higher up, the forest opens to rocky slopes, boulder fields and meadow-like clearings with growing exposure to sun and wind. Creek crossings are minor but can be muddy, and the surface in the upper section is rooty and rocky. Key landmarks include the long forest switchbacks, an open basin below the summit, and the final climb up the ridge to the mailbox and sweeping views of the Cascades, the Snoqualmie Valley and Mount Rainier on clear days. Many hikers turn around at the open viewpoints if weather or fatigue sets in. There is no reliable water on the trail and no hut or shelter, so carrying about three liters is standard, along with a navigation device in case cloud descends. Snow lingers on the upper trail outside July to October, and conditions can change quickly. The old trail, steeper and more direct, is best avoided by newer hikers, and descents with trekking poles reduce knee strain.