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Mountain Loop Highway, Stillaguamish Valley, Washington
Photo: brewbooks · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped

Drives Washington The North Cascades

Mountain Loop Highway

Mountain Loop, FS 20 · Granite Falls → Barlow Pass

Leisurely30 mi45 min2,600 ft climbHigh point ≈ 2,300 ftOne way
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The drive

The Mountain Loop Highway leaves Granite Falls and follows the South Fork Stillaguamish River east into the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The paved road is mostly gentle, through deep forest.

Verlot comes first. Its Public Service Center was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and 1940s and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Farther up is the Big Four Picnic Area and Ice Caves trailhead, then the road climbs to Barlow Pass, where the pavement ends.

This drive stops at Barlow Pass. Beyond it the road to Darrington is about 14 miles of single-lane gravel, and it is not part of this route.

Along the way

  1. Granite Falls
  2. Big Four
  3. Barlow Pass
Elevation
2,600 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 2,300 ft
Granite FallsBarlow Pass
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
Granite FallsBarlow Pass
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The highway is gated for winter between Deer Creek and Bedal; last year the closure ran from November 22 to May 26, and the timing follows snowfall.
  • Barlow Pass, Big Four and several other trailheads along the road charge a day-use fee that accepts a Northwest Forest Pass or other federal pass; the Washington Discover Pass is not valid.
  • Snow lingers at Barlow Pass into late spring, so the top of the drive opens later than the lower valley.
  • The paved road ends at Barlow Pass: the gravel loop to Darrington is single lane.

Gated at Deer Creek, below Barlow Pass, from about late November to May. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest: alerts.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Mountain Loop Highway take from Granite Falls to Barlow Pass?

Granite Falls to Barlow Pass is 30 miles and takes about 45 minutes. The road is mostly gentle curves.

Is the Mountain Loop Highway paved?

It is paved from Granite Falls through Verlot to Barlow Pass. Past Barlow Pass the road toward Darrington is about 14 miles of single-lane gravel.

When is the Mountain Loop Highway closed in winter?

The Forest Service gates the road between Deer Creek and Bedal for winter. The date varies with snow.

Do I need a pass for the Mountain Loop Highway?

Driving the road is free, but parking at fee sites such as Big Four and Barlow Pass needs a Northwest Forest Pass or another federal recreation pass.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
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Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Mountain Loop Highway, from Granite Falls to Barlow Pass