Travel guide to the top of Barlow Pass in WA
Barlow Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 718m (2,355ft) above the sea level, located in Snohomish County, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Located on the west side of the Cascade Range, the road to the summit is called Mountain Loop Highway. It’s half paved, half gravel. The road is 84.49km (52.5 miles) long running from Granite Falls, between the Pilchuck and Stillaguamish rivers, to Darrington. It is paved at both ends and the middle portion around Barlow Pass (14 miles-21 km) is a single-lane gravel road. Portions of the unpaved section are often closed due to flood damage. Parking is available at the summit. Bring water because surface water in the area has been found to contain arsenic and other heavy metals in amounts that exceed drinking water standards.
Surrounded by towering mountains in every direction, the summit is an access point for trail to Monte Cristo, a mining ghost town. It’s a 4 miles road closed (with rocks) to motorized traffic, extremely dangerous to try to drive it. The way is fairly level, with a few steep spots. Floods in 2003 and 2006 have also taken chunks out of the road, which provides ample evidence as to why this road was never re-opened.
Pic: Yogy Namara