Emerald Ridge

Take the Westside Road to the gate at Dry Creek (approximately 3 miles from the start of the road). Due to danger from rock fall, vehicles must park south of the barricade at Dry Creek. Hikers and bicyclists should travel through the area with caution and avoid lingering in the rock fall hazard zone. Hike up the closed portion of the road to the Puyallup River trailhead (approximately 4.5 miles). The first 1.6 miles of trail climbs gradually through old growth forest to the South Puyallup Camp. Just past the camp, the trail connects to Wonderland and becomes very rocky. It climbs more steeply as you follow the Wonderland Trail east to Emerald Ridge. Once atop Emerald Ridge, please stay on the constructed trails and rock outcroppings. The delicate subalpine vegetation is damaged by off-trail hiking and other uses. The route mapped turns around at the overlook of Glacier Island on the Wonderland Trail. For an alternate version of the route that's similar in distance, you could make a loop with Wonderland and Tahoma Creek trails to return to Westside Road.