Mailbox Peak · Old Trail
Old Trail Ascent & Return
The Route
The gated road passes the New Trail entrance before reaching the Old Trail turnoff.
- Mailbox TrailheadGated DNR road
- Old Trail TurnoffAbout one-third mile from gate
- Forest RidgeRoots and steep informal track
- New Trail JunctionShared upper route
- Talus & SummitFinal steep rise
Old Trail Turnoff
The approach follows the gated DNR road past the New Trail entrance. Roughly a third-mile from the gate, the Old Trail turns into the forest beside a difficulty-warning sign; its first fifth-mile follows a small drainage.
Rooted Forest Ridge
The route then climbs steeply with few switchbacks. Dense forest gives way to exposed roots and a loose, narrow ridge track. WTA places the meeting with the New Trail a little less than two miles from the gate.
Shared Upper Route
Above the junction, the routes share switchbacks and an open talus traverse. The last quarter-mile gains about 500 feet to the summit mailbox. A return on the Old Trail is the 5.4-mile reference; descending the New Trail creates a different total.
Published reference figures for the named itinerary. Source dates and access notices are separate from current terrain observations. 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
Trailhead, Washington · North Bend
Driving Approach
From I-90 exit 34, follow 468th Avenue to Middle Fork Road, then Dorothy Lake Road at the stop junction. The signed Mailbox turnoff is just after the roads reconnect.
Shared Parking & Facilities
The paved upper lot serves both Old and New trails, with a vault toilet and Discover Pass requirement. WTA lists seasonal gate hours posted at the trailhead, not a single fixed closing time.
Old Trail Entrance
Continue up the gated road past the New Trail turnoff. The Old Trail branches into the woods roughly one-third mile from the gate beside a difficulty-warning sign. The lower approaches are not interchangeable.
Source information checked 2026-10-23. Road snapshots are dated separately.
Reports
Mailbox Old Trail Reports
WTA's Old Trail feed covers the steep roots and ridge below the shared upper junction. An Old-ascent/New-descent loop has a different distance from returning on the 5.4-mile Old Trail itinerary.
Links open the publishers’ report pages. Reports are not automatically imported or filtered to a forecast date.