Weather, Maps & Directions
Weather sources, directions to the trailheads and maps can be found on this page.
- Weather Sources
- Directions to South District: High Hut, Snow Bowl & The Yurt
- Directions to North District: Copper Creek Hut
- Maps
Weather Sources
The weather sources we use are listed below with a brief explanation. Please use these to help plan your trip. Please understand, not all weather sources are accurate all the time. You should plan for all conditions.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Provides current weather data for the day and week.
- Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC). Provides mountain weather and avalanche forecasts.
- Weather stations are available through Pierce County. These sites provide current conditions at their respective locations.
- For a list of weather stations available select Pierce County
- Ashford Weather Station
- Puyallup Ridge Weather Station
- MTTA X – This is maintained by MTTA volunteers. The information provided includes trail conditions and sno-parks in use. It is updated based on volunteer availability.
- Facebook:
- Official MTTA Facebook – This page is the official page of the MTTA. It is maintained by volunteers. Information is updated as it is received.
- There are two “fan” groups where you may also find information, stories, pictures from hut and trail users. These groups are not affiliated with the MTTA.
Directions to South District: High Hut, Snow Bowl & The Yurt
We use two sno-parks in our South District, a lower sno-park located at an elevation of 2,360′ and an upper sno-park at an elevation of 3,000′. The lower sno-park has an outhouse and large parking area. To access the trailhead from this lot, continue up the road past the gate. If the gate is open, you may continue via vehicle to the upper parking lot.
To access the upper parking lot, continue driving up the road and stay on the main road. There will be a road off to your right. This is the parking for Anderson Lake. Continue to the left/straight to access the upper parking lot. The lot is marked and is a large parking area. This lot typically closes in the winter time when the snow level reaches 3,000′. There is also overflow parking located before you reach the upper parking lot.
A map with directions to our South District sno-parks can be viewed here. Typically gate closures will be posted on our Official Facebook page.
Directions to North District: Copper Creek Hut
We have three sno-parks available for use in our North District, a lower sno-park located at an elevation of 2,560′, a middle sno-park at an elevation of 2,960′ (least frequently used) and an upper sno-park at an elevation of 3,160′. The lower or upper sno-parks are most often in use depending on the snow level; Copper Creek Hut is closed during the summer season. An outhouse is available at the middle sno-park.
A map with directions to our North District sno-parks can be viewed here. Typically gate closures will be posted on our Official Facebook page.
Maps
An updated map with detailed information about the trail system was published in 2019 and copies of the map can be obtained from Whittaker Mountaineering in Ashford. If you have a copy of the map published in 2001, please keep in mind that some of the ski trails and sno-park access locations shown on it are no longer in use.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources published a recreation map for Elbe Hills and Tahoma State Forests in 2015 that includes the MTTA trail system as currently in use. The map is available as a free download in pdf format here.