Big Tree Lovers: Resources for Finding Big Trees on the Middle Fork

Big Tree lovers is for people, like you, who like to look at big trees without suffering from the urge to measure or map them (if you do have those urges, then the Big Tree Hunter tab is more your area).

It is sobering to think that enormous firs and cedars grew right down from the slopes of the Cascades to Puget Sound until they were logged in the late 19th and 20th centuries. What we have left are individual trees and a few hidden pockets of the old forests. Unfortunately, the very nature of how they have survived (the loggers couldn't get to them) makes them hard to reach now. It is also worth noting that the 'big trees' we see now are frequently the 'little trees' the loggers didn't want or couldn't mess with.

There are ample opportunities to go marvel at some of these trees or old growth forests. Even in Seattle you can find the occasional old growth tree. Keep in perspective, the Heritage Tree in Seward Park, the largest tree in Seattle, is a mere sapling compared to the 10'+ diameter giants.

Visiting trees is about pleasant walks and time spent looking at the trees. They don't run but are occasionally hard to find. Take it easy and keep your limitations in mind. This site is not intended to teach you how to navigate cross country nor what the ten essentials are but you still need to know. Each hike is coded, though, to tell approximately how hard it is. Keep this as a guide and remember "hard" and "expert" refer to routes that do not have trails!

As you walk to these trees, keep these rules in mind:
1. Do not approach a tree with a trail to its base, compacting the soil eventually kills the tree.
2. Take only pictures, never take part of the tree. If you want some needles or leaves, take them from another tree.
3. Do not leave anything by the tree. It's littering. Whether or not you think the tree has a spirit or needs a shrine built to it, do not leave flags, candles, etc.
4. Enjoy the tree and take a nice picture. You will find a person in the picture gives perspective. If you are taking a picture up, try to include 'average' trees in it. The big trees look smaller without perspective. Don't we all need perspective?
5. Don't ever purchase helium filled balloons and never allow them to be released. The go up, East, pop, then land in the forests of the Cascades. You wouldn't throw them around your neighborhood, don't release them into our mountains!
6. Be safe and come back again. The trees will be there.

Big Tree Logbook and Measurement Methods

Getting to the Middle Fork Road Take I-90 East from Seattle and exit at Exit 34 (this is the last exit for North Bend at the Truck Stops). Turn left at the end of the exit, go under I-90, past the truck stops, then the road bends to the left. Just after this curve is the Middle Fork Road to your right. Turn right and... ....stop and set your trip odometer to 0 miles. The Middle Fork Road Mileage_____ _______________________________________________ 0 Turn on to Middle Fork Road 1 The road splits, both go the same place so it doesn't matter. To the right is a narrow road that follows the old railroad grade, to the left is the road that accesses some houses. 2.5 (0) Pavement ends and the trailhead for Mailbox Peak. If you forgot to set your odometer, we'll start again from here in paranthesis. 4.3 (1.8) River gaging station 5.1 (2.6) Bridge over the Middle Fork 7.2 (4.7) Side road on left with access to CCC road 9.5 (7.0) CCC Road 9.7 (7.2) Southwest end of CCC trail, don't park in the blind curve, you are walking anyway so park where it is safe. 11.7 (9.2) Middle Fork Trailhead and wilderness gateway foot bridge. 12.1 (9.6) Middle Fork Campground (NFS) 12.2 (9.7) Bridge over Taylor River 12.5 (10) Fork, turn left to the Taylor River Trailhead, turn right to Dingford Creek trailhead and Goldmeyer Hotsprings 13.7 (11.2) The big switchback in the road 16 (13.5) Sign that says "16", go figure! 18 (15.5) Dingford trailhead and road gated

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The Middle Fork