AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Seattle Public Utilities

Seattle City Light Viewpoint–Swans Mill Pond, 5 sights

12.3 mi · ▲ 1,403 ft · 4 hr 48 min

Seattle City Light Viewpoint–Swans Mill Pond, 5 sights is a 12.3-mile out-and-back in Seattle Public Utilities near Stillwater, WA. The route passes Moss Lake and Swans Mill Pond before reaching Seattle City Light Viewpoint at the turnaround, 6.1 miles in. It climbs 1,403 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 81/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi341 – 784 ft · steepest grade: 19%12.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Loop Trail 47.69231, -121.85221
Nearest town Stillwater, WA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Seattle City Light Viewpoint–Swans Mill Pond, 5 sights

12.3 mi · ▲ 1,403 ft · 4 hr 48 min

Elevation 343–783 ft

Out & Back · Seattle Public Utilities

Trailhead: Loop Trail · 47.69231, -121.85221

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:31 AM · sunset 7:44 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Loop Trail, heading NE.
  2. 50 ftPass Moss Lake.
  3. 1.3 miTurn right onto Short Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.3 miBear right, heading E.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto Stones, heading E.
  6. 0.3 miTurn left, heading S.
  7. 0.4 miBear right, heading E.
  8. 50 ftSharp left, heading E.
  9. 0.2 miBear right onto Swan Loop Road, heading W.
  10. 1.7 miBear left, heading NW.
  11. 1.1 miTurn left, heading SW.
  12. 0.2 miPass Swans Mill Pond.
  13. 100 ftSharp right onto Swan Mill Road, heading W.
  14. 0.1 miSharp right, heading S.
  15. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  16. 200 ftTurn left, heading S.
  17. 0.5 miReach Seattle City Light Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.5 miTurn right, heading S.
  19. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  20. 0.1 miSharp left onto Swan Loop Road, heading S.
  21. 1.3 miBear left, heading E.
  22. 1.7 miBear left, heading SW.
  23. 0.2 miSharp right, heading SW.
  24. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  25. 0.4 miTurn right, heading W.
  26. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Stones, heading W.
  27. 100 ftBear left onto Short Trail, heading SW.
  28. 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  29. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Loop Trail, heading W.
  30. 1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/swans-mill-pond-swans-mill-pond-out-back-4-lakes-19-km-d076

Trail surface

19% dirt81% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:31 AMSunset 7:44 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.0 mi in (~25 min). Leave by 6:59 PM for the 7:44 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Loop Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Stillwater, Washington