Hop over to Frog Lake Trail

Location: Three miles south of Darrington.

Length: Two miles round-trip.

Level of difficulty: Level-to-moderate dirt trail, muddy in parts.

Setting: Just below the trailhead, Clear Creek flows into the Sauk River. Take the narrow trail up the hill, climbing above Clear Creek and passing through a moss-draped forest of Douglas firs and western red cedars with lots of ferns. Occasional spurs off the trail go close to the steep ravine, so keep an eye on kids. Near the top of the hill, the trail squeezes between a fir and a cedar.

Shortly afterward, the trail emerges onto a logging road (No. 2060). Immediately re-enter the forest on the trail on the left and continue on (you'll return later via this logging road). Along this part of the trail, you'll encounter several single-log bridges. Eventually, the trail emerges onto a spur off the logging road (visible on your right). Turn left and go down to the lake, which is fringed with spirea marshes and dotted with native yellow pond lilies. Return to the logging road, and turn right and follow it down to where it emerges on the highway just down the road from the trailhead.

Highlights: This trail offers a wide variety of native plants — compare the types of vegetation along the forest trail with the more limited (and nonnative) plants in the environment alongside the logging road. The adventure highlight along the trail for kids is a 20-foot-long log bridge with cross slats for traction and a cable for gripping.

Facilities: Vault toilets at Clear Creek Campground across street from trailhead.

Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect. Northwest Forest Pass required to park at trailhead ($5/day pass, $30/annual pass); available at ranger station or at Sauk River Trading Post in Darrington. As at most unattended trailheads, leave no valuables in your car.

Directions: From Interstate 5 north of Marysville, take Exit 208, and head east 30 miles on Highway 530 to Darrington. After passing through town, turn right on the Mountain Loop Highway (at the Shell station), and head south. In 3.2 miles, just before the bridge over Clear Creek, park in the pullout on the right.

For more information: 800-627-0062 (choose "Darrington Ranger Station" option) or www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/about/drd.shtml.

— Cathy McDonald, Special to The Seattle Times

Renton-based freelancer Cathy McDonald, a former geologist, has written about science and nature travel for 20 years. She's currently a travel guidebook editor and researcher at Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door. Contact her: nwwriter@hotmail.com.