Mailbox Peak · New Trail
New Trail to the summit
The Route
The New Trail climbs long forest switchbacks before a steeper final ascent to Mailbox Peak.
- Mailbox TrailheadDNR road and gate
- New Trail TurnoffAbout 100 yards beyond gate
- Forest SwitchbacksCreeks, bridges and turnpikes
- Old Trail JunctionAbout 3,860 feet
- Mailbox PeakShared final half-mile
Gated-Road Approach
The New Trail begins roughly 100 yards beyond the gate on the paved DNR access road. It is a different turnoff from the Old Trail farther along the road.
Northwest-Face Switchbacks
Bridges, creek crossings, rock fords and raised turnpikes lead into approximately four miles of forest switchbacks. This longer approach reaches the Old Trail junction around 3,860 feet.
Shared Summit Section
Above the junction, both routes share a much steeper final half-mile, gaining roughly 960 feet to the 4,822-foot summit. The listed 9.4 miles applies to returning on the New Trail, not an Old/New loop.
Terrain Along the Route
Creeks and forest switchbacks lead to the Old Trail junction around 3,860 ft; the shared final half-mile climbs roughly 960 ft.
Approximate guide figures for the named route and endpoint, not a current measured track. Reference Set: 2026-10-23.
Weather
Current forecasts open at the providers below. NWS forecasts describe a terrain grid cell, not an exact summit.
Access
Middle Fork Road Trailhead, North Bend, WA
Driving Approach
From I-90 exit 34, follow 468th Avenue north to Middle Fork Road. Continue 2.2 miles to the Dorothy Lake Road junction, turn right, and find the signed Mailbox turnoff just after the roads rejoin.
Parking, Gate & Facilities
The paved upper lot has approximately 40 spaces and a vault toilet. Discover Pass required. Gate hours change seasonally and the current closing time is posted at the trailhead, rather than a fixed year-round hour.
New Trail Start
Both routes share the parking area. Follow the gated road to the New Trail entrance about 100 yards beyond the gate; the Old Trail turnoff is farther along the road.
Source information checked 2026-10-23. Road snapshots are dated separately.
Reports
Mailbox New Trail Reports
This WTA page is the New Trail feed. Reports of Old Trail ascents or mixed Old/New loops have different mileage and lower-trail footing; both share the upper junction and summit section.
Links open the publishers’ report pages. Reports are not automatically imported or filtered to a forecast date.