Marckworth State Forest

Platts Lookout–Marckworth State Forest Viewpoint, 3 summits

10.7 mi · ▲ 1,476 ft · 4 hr 18 min

Platts Lookout–Marckworth State Forest Viewpoint, 3 summits is a 10.7-mile out-and-back in Marckworth State Forest near Lake Marcel, WA. The route passes Platts Lookout before reaching Marckworth State Forest Viewpoint at the turnaround, 5.4 miles in. It climbs 1,476 ft, with sections as steep as 35% grade. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi253 – 1,011 ft · steepest grade: 35%11.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 47.74582, -121.90835
Nearest town Lake Marcel, WA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Platts Lookout–Marckworth State Forest Viewpoint, 3 summits

10.7 mi · ▲ 1,476 ft · 4 hr 18 min

Elevation 252–1,010 ft

Out & Back · Marckworth State Forest

Trailhead: 47.74582, -121.90835

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:52 AM · sunset 7:11 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 200 ftContinue straight onto Cherry Creek Falls Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Dense, heading NE.
  4. 250 ftContinue straight onto Cherry Creek Falls Trail, heading E.
  5. 0.4 miSharp right onto On Borrowed Time, heading NE.
  6. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  7. 1 miTurn left, heading N.
  8. 0.5 miBear left, heading SE.
  9. 0.8 miTurn left, heading NE.
  10. 0.7 miSharp left, heading E.
  11. 0.2 miBear right, heading E.
  12. 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
  13. 0.8 miPass Marckworth State Forest Viewpoint.
  14. 250 ftReach Platts Lookout, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.9 miTurn left, heading NW.
  16. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  17. 0.2 miSharp right, heading S.
  18. 0.7 miTurn right, heading W.
  19. 0.8 miBear right, heading S.
  20. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  21. 1 miTurn left, heading W.
  22. 0.4 miSharp left onto Cherry Creek Falls Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Dense, heading SW.
  24. 250 ftContinue straight onto Cherry Creek Falls Trail, heading SW.
  25. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

52% dirt28% gravel20% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:52 AMSunset 7:11 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is right at the trailhead, so there is no walk out. Be there by 6:51 PM to have the sun's last 20 minutes of sky before it sets at 7:11 PM. Your car is right there — dark at 7:42 PM.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

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