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Hike Trail

Trail of the Cedars

4.6 (8 Ratings)
A great trail that crosses the Skagit River to explore an old growth forest that's felt the touch of fire.
0.6
mi
Distance
22
ft
Gain
easy
Difficulty
BirdingFall ColorsFamily FriendlyRiver/CreekWildflowers

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
0.59mi
Distance
22ft
Elevation Gain
41ft
Elevation Loss
10%
Max Grade
517ft
High Point
489ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
This lollipop trail starts across the street from the Gorge Inn in Newhalem, WA and immediately crosses over the picturesque Skagit River on a bouncy suspension bridge. From there, the short loop takes hikers through an interesting mix of cedar trees including scorched trees that have remained standing from the fire in 1922. More recently, a blaze in 2015 inflicted some damage so you can observe the forest's early stages of recovery. On the back half of the trail sits the Newhalem power station building, which is neat. Make sure to end your hike by soaking your feet under the bridge while enjoying the aquamarine currents as they go rolling by. This is a short trail, but it's definitely worth a stop!

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
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Contributors
Julie Laney