Gold Hill Loop
September 2010
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Length 24mi., alt 29 mi.
Elevation change 1500 feet, alt 2700 ft. Mix of gravel and paved secondary road. Suggest a bike
with low gears and at least 1.5 inch width tires.
This loop route is probably best done in a counter clockwise direction,
starting at Old School Park and going south along the paved Mountain Loop
Highway which giaves a gradual ascent up the Sauk River valley. There will be occasional views of Mt.
Pugh, and Whitechuck Mountain. At
about 9 miles, just after crossing the Sauk River, the route turns left on
Fores Road 22 and crosses the Whitechuck River. At the Whitechuck Boat launch there are toilet
buildings. The road becomes
gravel. The route makes a short
steep ascent, then returns to a more gradual ascent and passes the trailhead
for the Whitechuck Bench trail and continues until a sharp switchback at a
junction. The left turn is Forest Road 22 would be the alternate high route
that connects to FR 24520. The
right turn is FR 24which continues the gradual rise to Cabe’s Junction. The route is rolling after the left
turn (still FR 24) at Cabe’s Junction until re-intersecting with the high
route, where a quick descent through switchbacks and with grand views to the
north reaches the Sauk Prairie Road and a left turn back to Darrington. The route on the map takes Montague
Avenue as a way to avoid traffic on Hwy 530 for the last ½ mile back to Old
School Park.
It is easy to
combine this with travel on Community
Transit Route 230.
View Gold Hill Loop in a larger map
