For a little over the first mile this trail winds through mixed forest then enters old growth.  When you emerge from the forested land you enter expansive meadows thus how this mountain got its name.  In the earlier hiking season these meadows are teaming with every wildflower imaginable and with that butterflies.  When cooler nights return to the mountain in fall this fills with vibrant colors.

At one mile the trail enters the Glacier Peak Wilderness.  The trail climbs steadily and at 2.5 miles, about 5,200 feet, it descends down to two small tarns (lakes).  Just below this is a backountry toilet and some camping sites.  Please only use the designated camping sites which have the fire rings and please help protect this fragile alpine.  This is a good place to take a rest and gear up for the remaining steep switchbacks ahead.  It’s hard work from here on out but as you go up the views just get better and better.  You’ll hear the shrill whistles of the marmots that make these steep slopes their home as they warn others of your approaching.  Some call the local marmots the Green Mountain Greeters.

Look up and catch views of Green Mountain Lookout perched high on it’s mountain as you ascend the trail.  The first Green Mountain Lookout was just a camp back in 1919 and  subject to some pretty harsh living conditions.  Later in 1933 the Civilian Conservation Corps built an L-4 cab on the mountain.  It served many years safeguarding the surrounding lands from fire.  The lookout was later abandoned when aerial fire detection became more prevalent.   Later this building was staffed by Wilderness Rangers to aide public visitors that came to this area.  In 1987 it was added to National Register of Historic Places.

The structure after so many harsh conditions began to fail and was closed to the public.  Due to such public support and the concurrence of the Washington State Historic Preservation, the Forest Service received a grant to save this building and rehabilitation began in 1999.  The project plagued by heavy snows in 2000 became apparent the lookout needed to be disassembled and moved, each piece being carefully tagged so they could reassemble it later.  The lookout was lifted by helicopter and taken to the Darrington Ranger Station for restoration.  In 2003 and 2006, severe storms washed out roads, one being the Suiattle River Road, access to Green Mountain.  By 2009 the lookout was flown back and reassembled on it’s mountain.  The following year this lookout was threatened by a lawsuit from a conservation group wanting it dismantled and moved off of its mountain.  Once again overwhelming cry of the public support came to this lookout.  It took an act of Congress and the signature of the president to ensure this cherished lookout remain atop of it’s mountain and part of American heritage.

Views From Green Mountain Trail