While the new route has smoothed a lot of Mailboxs edges, its still a challenging hike. Teneriffe as you complete your 360-degree tour. Washington almost directly across the valley from you and as you swing north you can see Rattlesnake Ridge stretching back toward Seattle. Rainier dominating the skyline above the interstate. Turn south passing over McClellan Buttes distinctive crown to find Mt. Kaleetan Peak is easy to pick out before your views are blocked by the next prominence along the ridgeline, sometimes called Dirtybox Peak, for its location between Mailbox and Dirty Harrys Peak. Swing east and pick out the crags of nearby Russian Butte with other peaks of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Valley beyond. Most likely youll be sharing the spectacular views with some fellow hikers, so find a quiet place to take it all in. Press upward and follow the train of people over rock and loose soil to the mailbox. Not far from the junction you will emerge from the trees to see the exposed summit in the distance. The last half-mile is something of a scramble, as the trail steeply climbs the ridge over a tangle of roots and rocks. Turn left and get ready for a tough final push to the top. After four miles and nearly 3500 feet of elevation, arrive at the junction with the old trail. And climb it does endlessly and relentlessly up mile after mile of wide, well-made trail. Veterans of the hike will still find a familiar amount of elevation gain as the trail climbs through a mixed forest of maple, fir and cedar. From here, the trail begins relatively gently, crossing a few creeks and a hefty bridge before beginning to switchback in earnest. Todays trailhead is an obvious and well-signed affair, complete with a detailed map of the path ahead. From the parking area, the trail begins, as it has for decades, by walking around a gated forest road and finding a trailhead a few dozen yards down the road.

Mailbox peak