Tonga Ridge Trail #1058 to Mount Sawyer

Bursting with wildflowers in the spring and huckleberries in the late summer, this lovely ridgeline hike offers expansive views all year long.
Total Distance: 5.5 miles
Total Ascent: 1200ft
Highest Point: 5480ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Our Hiking Time: 3h 30m
Required Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
To get there, take Highway 2 out past Skykomish just beyond milepost 50. Take a right onto FR 68, also known as the Foss River Road. Continue for about three-and-a-half miles to a junction, taking a left onto FR 6830 and following it for almost seven miles to the signed 310 spur. Head right onto the spur and drive a little over a mile to the end of the road and the trailhead. View Google Directions >>
This is a great all-season trail that we recommend for any hiker. Whether you’re looking for a snowshoe, springtime wildflowers, summer berry picking or autumn colors, Tonga Ridge delivers. The trail is also fairly easy and should be approachable for hikers of all ages and experience, which tends to draw in the crowds. You can expect to share the trail with a lot of other folks on this popular hike, and the limited parking at the trailhead can be challenge on a crowded day. If at all possible, try to hit Tonga Ridge on a weekday when traffic will be lighter.

There's a lot more to Tonga Ridge, and you can learn all about it in Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide, and Hiking through History Washington: Exploring the Evergreen State's Past by Trail. You'll find a trail map, route descriptions, history, and more for this and many other hikes throughout the State. Help support hikingwithmybrother.com and the work we do by picking up a copy!