Find a Perfect Picnic
Include a picnic for your special day having a family outing, romantic weekend get away or just some quiet time for yourself. Darrington has several city parks, county parks, Forest Service picnic areas and just nice places for a tailgate picnic.
- Harold Engles City Park has one picnic table in a grove of old growth trees. There is also a horseshoe pit and Frisbee golf coarse.
- Nels Bruseth Memorial Garden is north of town across the street from the Darrington Ranger Station and is part of the Forest Service. There is one picnic table by the adjacent covered canoe shelter, which displays historical tribal dugout canoes with an informational kiosk. This is a great place to learn some local history.
- Old School City Park is right in town, a great family get away with beautiful views of the mountains. There are picnic tables in the gazebo and outside. Several of the picnic tables have free standing grills. The restrooms are within the gazebo. Activities include a tennis court, pickle ball court, playground, basketball, bicycle pump track, new skateboard park and lots of open space.
- Old Sauk Accessible Trail
- Squire Creek Campground is 3 miles west of Darrington and is a Snohomish County park. This park has picnic table along the Squire Creek, to the north is a short nature trail that goes down to the creek, to the south is the restrooms. There are two large gazebos that can be reserved for special occasions or used as a first come first served basis.
- Texas Pond within the Darrington Ranger District is a nice outing with one campsite and one picnic site by the pond. There is a simple launch where one can put in a small non-motorized boat or raft to just paddle and explore or do a little fishing. Texas Pond was created as cedar bolt pond back in 1908. This is a fascinating destination both historically as well as wildlife viewing.
- USFS Old Sauk Accessible Trailhead is south of Darrington on the Mountain Loop Highway. This parking area accesses the 1.3 mile accessible loop trail where people with wheelchairs can enjoy getting out in the forest and enjoy views of the Sauk River. This is also popular for using strollers. Their is an accessible vault toilet and five accessible picnic tables. This is a USFS Trailhead, so the Northwest Trail Pass is required.
- USFS Sauk River Boat Launch is north of Darrington at the confluence pf the Sauk and Suiattle Rivers. There is a large covered area with one picnic table, free standing grill and sanican. The Sauk River and boat launch are to the east with a couple of way trails along the river. When parking be sure not to block the boat trailer parking.
- USFS White Chuck River Boat Launch is south of Darrington at the confluence of the White Chuck and Sauk Rivers. There is one picnic table by the launch and vault toilet at the parking area. There are nice views of the river and White Chuck and Sauk Rivers access at the launch.
- White Chuck Overlook is right off of the Mountain Loop Highway heading south from Darrington. There is a path to the overlook of White Chuck Mountain and two picnic areas with tables. An interpretive sign along the trail explains the early days of the logging camps that moved from site to site on flatbed cars on the railroad. There is a vault toilet at the adjacent parking area.
- White Chuck Turn Around – Crystal Creek Trailhead is large turn around parking area at the trailhead just after crossing the second White Chuck River Bridge on White Chuck Road, FSR #23. This area is part of the White Chuck – Rat Trap Pass Scenic Loop Drive. In spring and early summer many woodland wildflowers grow here.
See also Forest Road Scenic Drives and pack the picnic basket and enjoy some incredible views!