(You’ll see a sign) Head left, and walk uphill until you get to the top! Note: these directions are for the “new trail.“ If you want the “old trail,” keep going up this gravel road until you come to another sign on your left that indicates Mailbox Peak. Follow this gravel road uphill until you get to the trailhead. Just look for the big gate/bar across the road… That is the start of the trail. Once dropped off by the shuttle, walk up the paved hill until you get to a gate across a gravel road (on your left).Please close the lid of the toilet, guys. Note: there are pit toilets at the parking lot once you get dropped off from the shuttle and you walk uphill. If you do park at the lot, you’ll need a Discover Pass. You can’t miss it, and it beats the hassle of parking. There is a sandwich board where to stand for the shuttle, which comes ever 10-15 minutes. Bring $2.75 (each way, so $5.50 total) or your Orca card to pay the fare. Instead of battling for a parking space, park 10 mins down the road at Twin Falls Middle School. I packed light and alternated between jogging and “striding out“ on the steep sections. There is a lot with room for about 40 cars.I went up the new trail and down the old trail on July 14, 2018. There is a turnoff on the right just after the merge with SE Dorothy Lake Road. The trailhead for the Mailbox Peak Trail is off Middle Fork Road. Getting to the Mailbox Peak Trail Trailhead Check current gate times at the trailhead so you don’t get locked out! The gates to this hike typically open an hour after dawn and an hour before dusk.Try to stay off the old trail, even if it seems tempting given the crowds this hike sometimes sees.Get here early! The trail can also feel congested so we definitely recommend hiking on a weekday if you are able to. Parking for this trail fills up quickly on the weekends.We don’t recommend it, as it’s in much worse condition than the new trail and was notorious for injuries during its use. Yes, the old trail still exists and you can still hike it. Please have your Discover Pass ready to go for this hike. What pass do I need to hike Mailbox Peak? He had built a mailbox at the top and challenged the kids of the retreat to climb the summit and reach the mailbox. Frequently Asked Questions Why is there a mailbox at Mailbox Peak?īack in the '60s, a postman named Carl Heine was working as the director of Valley Camp, a retreat near the base of the mountain. This 14,409-foot stratovolcano is an iconic sight and the highlight of your sightline. The tallest mountain in the state is a dominant part of your view on the Mailbox Peak Trail. Mount Rainier is right there, and the Middle Fork valley lines the ground ahead in green.Ĭheck the mailbox, sign the register, maybe leave a trinket, and then retrace your steps back to the parking area, taking care on the steep initial descent. You’ll crest the peak, which sits at the end of a ridgeline. From now until the summit, you’ll gain closer to 960 feet of elevation in half a mile. This stretch is rockier, so watch your step. The switchbacks go on for about 4 miles, at which point you rejoin the old trail for the summit ascent. You’ll be gaining about 850 feet of elevation per mile, and it doesn’t relent until the peak. You’ll cross bridges and creeks, and then the switchbacks really set in. A hundred yards past the gate, you’ll see the entrance to the new trail. You’ll walk for a bit along a paved path, skirting around a gate. Still, be ready for a bigger ascent and lots of fellow hikers on this popular route. This trail is difficult, but a monumental effort vastly improved the conditions after the old dangerous trail was ditched in favor of a much safer new trail. The Mailbox Peak Trail leads you to a viewpoint adorned with a sticker-clad mailbox where hikers from all over leave goodies for the next groups up. What’s in the mailbox? Besides the trail register, sometimes it’s toys, sometimes it’s beer, sometimes it’s just some ants looking for shelter.
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