Storyline June 2014 Summertime in Darrington, Wash.

A Note about Oso, Arlington & Darrington
The recent tragic landslide in Oso, Washington struck in the heart of one of Snohomish
County’s prime recreation destinations, with significant impacts to communities that
rely heavily on tourism for jobs and growth. In the weeks since the slide, the residents
of Arlington and Darrington
have identified priorities
important for the near- and
long-term economic recovery
of their towns and the broader
region which include
improving the region’s tourism
and recreation infrastructure
and encouraging visitors to the
Stillaguamish Valley.
You can help by including
Darrington and the
Stillaguamish Valley region
in your editorial coverage this
summer.
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Banjos, Rodeos & Backcountry Adventure:
It’s Summertime in Darrington, Wash.
waters of the north fork of the Stillaguamish River.
Under sun-filled summer
skies and starry nights,
thousands of music lovers
come together in
Darrington, Washington
for multi-day music
festivals. They toe-tap
and dance to the music
of bluegrass legends,
genre-bending indie
music bands, and Mother
Nature’s own musicians
of mountain jays and
crickets, wind-rustled
trees, and the rushing
Dating back to 1870, Darrington celebrates its mining, lumber and ranching heritage
through a number of community events, including the Timberbowl Rodeo.
Outdoor enthusiasts also make Darrington their base camp for summer adventure
including hiking, backcountry excursions by horseback, whitewater rafting, climbing
challenging rock faces, and casting a fishing line for salmon and trout.
Ah, it’s summertime in Darrington!
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Darrington Bluegrass Festival, July 18-20
Since 1977, Darrington has hosted the
Pacific Northwest’s longest operating
bluegrass festival, drawing more than
7,000 fans of this Appalachian-style
music. Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers,
Audie Blaylock and Redline, and Lorraine
Jordan and Carolina Road will headline
this year’s festival with 11 more
performers/bands rounding out the
schedule.
Take a break by dipping a toe in the north fork of the Stillaguamish River that runs
along the north boundary of the park or strolling on a nearby trail.
This is a dry festival: dry camping, no alcohol, and no hookups for RVs. Camping fees
are included in ticket prices.
•Tickets: starting at $20, children under 12 years of age are free when
accompanied by an adult.
•
Schedule: go to www.darringtonbluegrass.com/lineup.html
•
Location: Darrington Bluegrass Music Park
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Phone: 360-436-1006
•Website: www.DarringtonBluegrass.com
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Summer Meltdown Music Festival, Aug. 7-10
The festival celebrates a rich
diversity of musical genres: folk
stomp Americana and West
African percussion to electronic
trance and party funk, with
hip-hop and acoustic thrown into
the mix. Some 22 indie bands
and performers are scheduled to
perform over the four-day event.
Adults can enjoy the beer garden and children can frolic in the Kids Zone. Don’t want to
pack the cook stove? Food vendors will be selling a variety of vittles. Service animals are
welcome, however, pets are not allowed.
Camping fees are included in festival admission. A number of tenting areas have been
set aside for like-minded folks such as kid-friendly family areas and “loud camp” for
die-hard enthusiasts. A limited number of spaces are available for RVs and car
camping.
•Tickets: prices start at $35 and day passes are available
•
Parking: $3 per vehicle, carpooling is encouraged
•
Gate Hours:
o
Thurs., 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
o
Fri., 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
o
Sat., 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
o
Sun., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
•
Location: Darrington Bluegrass Music Park
•Website: www.SummerMeltdownFest.com or Facebook
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Timberbowl Rodeo, June 21 & 22
Showcasing the heritage and soul of ranch rodeo, the Darrington Timberbowl Rodeo
features saddle bronc, bull riding, and women’s barrel racing competitions. Don’t miss
the “Business Men Cow Milking” contest and the Mutton Bustin’ and Stick Pony Racing
for kids.
The rodeo is a sanctioned event by the Western States Ranch Rodeo Association, an
organization offering the working cowboy as well as men and women of all ages an
opportunity to showcase their talents and skills in sanctioned ranch rodeo events.
Following the rodeo is “Dancing in the Dirt” concert at the adjacent Darrington Music
Bluegrass Park. All proceeds from the $10 admission will benefit the Oso community
relief efforts.
•
Time: rodeo starts at 2 p.m.
•
Tickets: $10 adults, $7 seniors & children
under 12
•
Location: Darrington Rodeo Grounds, three
miles west of town on SR 530
For more information go to
www.DarringtonRodeoGrounds.com.
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More Events Uniquely Darrington:
•
•
•
•
•
An Old-fashioned 4th of July Celebration, July 4
Biker Sunday, July 20
Darrington Rock & Gem Show & Sale, July 19 & 20
Bluegrass Jam Session, 2nd Sunday of the month, 1 p.m.
Play Days at the Rodeo Grounds, June 14 & 15, July 12 & 13, Aug. 2 & 3,
Sept. 13 & 14
For more information these events as well as other visitor activities, go to
www.DarringtonWATourism.com.
Outdoor Adventure Awaits in Darrington
From hiking and horseback riding to fishing and whitewater rafting, outdoor enthusiasts
will discover a playground filled with old growth forests, fragrant wildflowers, and
wildlife such as bald eagles, Calliope hummingbirds, mule deer and wild turkeys.
Before heading out your outdoor adventure, contact the Darrington Ranger Station,
360-436-1155, for the latest weather, road and trail conditions.
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Fishing
Freshwater anglers will find plenty of salmon, native and hatchery steelhead trout, and
other game fish in the cold flowing waters of the Sauk and Stillaguamish Rivers.
Fishing licenses are required for anglers over 16 years of age. In addition to state areas,
the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also regulates fishing on rivers, streams
and lakes in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
To find the best places to cast a line, contact:
•
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
o
Mountain Loop Scenic Byway
fishing locations
o
Darrington Ranger Station,
360-436-1155
•
Washington Department of Fish &
Wildlife
oFish Washington!
o
Fishing Hotline: 360-902-2500
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Hiking
Some of the best hiking trails for all levels of ability and fitness are nestled right here in
the Darrington area. Lace up your hiking boots, grab your camera, and make sure your
day pack is filled with favorite food fare, essentials, and plenty of water.
These two trails are popular with families and those looking for adventure without much
sweat:
•
Old Sauk Trail – is an easy six
mile, kid-friendly hike to the
raucous Sauk River, where
salmon spawn, bald eagles
winter, dwarf dogwood and
other wildflowers bloom, and
old-growth Douglas-fir trees still
stand.
•
Goat Lake Trail – is a moderate
10-mike hike with a fairly easy
and gentle elevation gain of
1,400 feet to one of the larger
and more popular lakes of the
Mountain Loop Scenic Byway
and the site of a once bustling
mining town.
For more information on these and
more Darrington-area trails, download
a copy of the Snohomish County
Hiking Guide.
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Outback by Horseback
Saddle up on a trusty steed to explore the deep country of the North Cascades. Your
veteran guide will lead the way, using mules or horses to carry camp gear and supplies.
You can then focus your attention on the beauty of the forests and vistas.
Want to set up a base camp for an extended stay to enjoy horseback riding, hunting,
fishing, taking photos, or the solitude? Darrington-based outfitters will keep your camp
provisioned during your stay.
•
•
Bar 3 Quarter Horse Ranch & Outfitters, 30726 Sauk Prairie Rd.
360-436-1644. Facebook “Bar 3 Quarter Horse Ranch & Outfitters”
The Pack Station, 1225 Darrington Street. 360-631-7219.
www.ThePackStation.com
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Rock Climbing
Three O’clock Rock. Exfoliation Dome. Green Giant Buttress. The names of these rugged
and remote mountains may be humorous but the climbs offer experienced rock climbers
serious challenges and breathtaking rewards.
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Three O’clock Rock is the easiest to reach of the three Darrington crags and has a
variety of climbing routes, making this a good choice for the first-time visitor.
Exfoliation Dome is not just a crag, but a mountain peak with no simple route up
or down. Considered by some as possibly the most difficult 4,000-foot peak in
Washington State, many climbers opt for the more accessible, less steep route on
the west face called Blueberry Hill.
Green Giant Buttress, known for its popular yet surprisingly challenging Dreamer route, is two miles past the Three O’clock Rock trailhead.
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Climbing notes: Approach hikes
range from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours
on rough or un-maintained trails
that may not be suitable for passenger vehicles, and may include
stream crossings, brush, and
scrambling. Because of the
remoteness of the climbs, cell
phone reception may be poor or
nonexistent. The area is rainy even
in the high summer months, and
some climbs may take a couple days
or more to dry out after a rainfall.
Even on hot days, climbers will
want to wear protective clothing,
sunscreen, and hats and bring extra
water to fend off the sun’s intensity
against the white granite.
Whitewater Rafting
For breathtaking Cascade Mountains and wildlife views, take an exhilarating rafting trip
on the Sauk River, one of the few rivers in North America that actually flows north. It
also features Class III+ rapids. Because the U.S. Forest Service allows only a handful
of rafting outfitters to provide river trips on the U.S. Wild & Scenic-designated Sauk,
chances are excellent that river enthusiasts will have the river all to themselves!
•
Adventure Cascades, based in Darrington, toll free 1-855-RAFT-SAUK or
360-393-65815
•
North Cascade River Expeditions, based in Arlington, toll free 1-800-634-8433 or
360-435-9548
More Outdoor Adventure &
Recreation Opportunities
•
Rockhounding – four nearby
sites offer amateur rock
collectors chances to find
agates, garnets, sandstone
fossils, Thunder Egg geodes,
and more.
For locations and directions, go to:
www.DarringtonWATourism.com.
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Shelter with a View: Camping, RVing, and Rooms with Views
A variety of public and private campgrounds are available for tent camping and RVs
throughout the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and in the Darrington area.
Nature lovers who prefer more modern conveniences with find comfortable
accommodations in Darrington and Arlington.
Campgrounds
Bedal Campground: A quiet primitive camping experience just off the main road.
Situated along the Sauk River in an old-growth forest, campers will be lulled to sleep by
the sounds of the river’s rushing waters.
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•
Features: 22 sites, 12 suitable for
trailers; vault toilets; picnic tables,
fire pits; dogs on leash only.
No drinking water available. Large
RVs and trailers not recommended.
•
Type: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie
National Forest
•
Open: May 16-Sept. 7
•
Location: Heading from Darrington,
travel 16 miles southeast on the
graveled single lane section of the
Mt. Loop Scenic Byway. The
campground is located on the west
side of the road at mile post 37,
just beyond the junction of
Mt. Loop and Forest Road #49.
•
Reservations & information:
www.Recreation.gov or
1-877-444-6777
Cascade Kamloops Trout Farm & RV Park: Convenient to Darrington’s shopping, dining
and attractions yet with plenty of wilderness appeal, this campground is popular with
families and mature travelers. No license needed for a kid-friendly or lazy day of fishing
at the trout pond. The Barn Hall is available for meetings, weddings, and other
gatherings.
•
Features: 38 campsites with full hook ups, restrooms, hot showers, and laundry
facilities
•
Type: Privately owned
•
Open: Year-round
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Location: 1240 Darrington Street
•
Reservations & information: 360-436-1003
Clear Creek Campground: This popular campground is located near the Sauk River along
the Mountain Loop Highway with stately old fir trees. The fairly sparse undergrowth
provides a more open communal camping experience. Nearby are the one-mile long Frog
Lake nature trail and the three-mile Old Sauk Trail.
•
Features: 13 sites, 10
suitable for trailers; vault
toilets; picnic tables; fire pits.
No drinking water available.
•
Type: Mount Baker
Snoqualmie National Forest
•
Open: May-Sept. 28
•
Location: 3.5 miles south
of Darrington along the
Mountain Loop Scenic Byway
•
Reservations & information:
www.Recreation.gov or
1-877-444-6777
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Squire Creek Park & Playground: Situated less than four miles from Darrington’s town
center, the park has camping for tents and RVs among beautiful, moss-laden trees of an
old growth forest. Close to the Darrington Bluegrass Music Park, the Darrington Rodeo
Grounds, and adventures in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and
Whitehorse Mountain.
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Features: creek access; picnic areas, shelters and tables; restrooms (Sanicans);
water not available during winter/cold season; no RV hookups or dump station; no
alcohol permitted.
Type: Snohomish County Parks & Recreation
Open: mid-April to mid-October
Location: 41415 SR 530, Arlington
Reservations & information: www.ReserveAmerica.com or 425-388-6600
Hotels, Motels & Inns
•
Darrington Motor Inn: Located in center of town; 16 rooms, some with
kitchenettes; pet-friendly; laundry facilities. 1100 Seeman St, Darrington.
360-436-1776
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Medallion Hotel: 97 rooms; free high-speed WiFi, hot breakfast buffet; TV, DVD
player, microwave & refrigerator; nearby shopping, dining. 16710 Smokey Point
Blvd, Arlington. 360-339-8041. www.MedallionHotel.net
•
River Rock Inn: a luxurious Northwest Cabin-style, five-suite bed & breakfast;
multi-course breakfast; spa & concierge services. 15425 133rd Ave NE,
Arlington. 360-403-7014. www.RiverRockInnBnB.com
For more information on Darrington’s events and outdoor adventures, high-resolution
images and other communities and activities for visitors to see and do, contact Julie
Gangler, media relations, 206-789-6647 or [email protected].
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Check Before You Go:
For road & trail conditions within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, call the
Darrington Ranger Station at 360-436-1155 or by going online at:
•
Mountain Loop Scenic Byway – access from either Darrington to the north of
Granite Falls in the south
•
Suittle River Road – also known as Forest Road #26, access to Glacier Peak
Wilderness
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