Tonga Ridge Snowshoe
Central CascadesBest Dec–Apr
A high ridgeline snowshoe with wide Cascade panoramas, requiring real route-finding skills to earn the views.
About This Trail
Tonga Ridge puts snowshoers on an open ridgecrest above the Foss River drainage with views stretching from Mount Hinman to Glacier Peak. The route follows an unmarked path through subalpine forest that opens up as it climbs, trading tree cover for increasingly expansive mountain scenery. Navigation here demands attention: the ridge is not marked for winter travel, and whiteout conditions erase the route fast.
Getting to the trailhead in winter adds its own challenge. Forest Road 6830 holds snow well into spring, and many parties end up parking miles below the actual trailhead, adding significant road-walking distance. A high-clearance vehicle helps, but even then, snow depth and fallen trees can force an early stop. Check recent trip reports for current road conditions before committing.
The payoff for all that effort is genuine solitude on a ridgeline that sees heavy summer traffic but very few winter visitors. The terrain sits in avalanche-prone terrain, so this outing requires beacon, probe, shovel, and the skills to use them. Not a route for learning those skills.
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
“5 miles from trailhead due to continuous soft snow on the forest road.”
Last report: Jan 9, 2026
Scorecard
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
Persistent Hazards
- avalanche terrain along ridgeline
- unmarked winter route requires navigation skills
- forest road often impassable, adding miles of road walking
- whiteout conditions common on exposed ridge
Getting There
Trailhead lot fits 10-12 vehicles, but reaching it in winter is the real question. Snow on FR 6830 regularly forces parking 3-4 miles below the trailhead. Check recent trip reports for road conditions. High clearance vehicle strongly recommended.
From Highway 2 east of Skykomish, turn south on Foss River Road (FR 68). After 2.6 miles cross under the railroad trestle, continue 1 mile to a Y intersection, then left on FR 6830 for 7 miles. Right on FR 310 for 1.3 miles to the trailhead. The route itself follows the ridgeline south from the trailhead with no marked path in snow.
Start early to maximize daylight for route-finding. Winter days are short and this ridge loses light fast once the sun drops behind the peaks to the west.
Recent Reports
With a considerable avalanche forecast, I decided to drive up Foss River Road and see how far I could get without getting stuck (been there, done that). Snow started in earnest after passing the trestle but I was able to make it to the junction with FR 6830 (Tonga Ridge) before turning around and parking about .
Parked 3. 5 miles from trailhead due to continuous soft snow on the forest road.
Just a quick note that while trying to get to the Deception Creek Trail and Tonga Ridge Trail intersection (at Fisher Creek), we tried to go to this trailhead first (as a shortcut). A few small trees down on the road which we cleared, lots of potholes, and one small sinkhole (that's flagged).
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