PAN-O-RAMA Traditional Cache

This cache is some 1300 feet above the valley floor at a spectacular panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, and Skykomish River Valleys.

The above photo (Monroe Historical Society photo #18) was taken of Monroe about a hundred years ago probably from High Rock which is visible below the cache site and between the cache site and the City of Monroe to the northwest. You will note that the Skykomish River has changed course since this photo was taken. Directly below the cache site is the rich farmland of the Tualco Valley, which stretches to the west to Reformatory Hill and to Lord Hill with the Snohomish River running below. To the southeast one can see the Snoqualmie River Valley all the way to Duvall and beyond. On a clear day you can see Seattle.

You are looking for a gated DNR road at the side of Lake Fontal Road in the vicinity of N47 48.122 W121 56.448. Although this gate has been open when I've been up here I have seen it closed, and, as I understand it, it is illegal to drive through such gates without the appropriate permissions so you can really get stuck if someone locks it behind you. There is room for at least one car to park on the side of the road here but there is a No Parking sign on the DNR Road itself in front of the gate. There is also a larger parking area back down Lake Fontal Road a short distance if you prefer. "Cache seekers assume all risks involved in seeking a cache."

Follow the main DNR road for a quarter mile until it splits. Take the branch through the gate and away from the power lines. Continue on that road until you are within a few hundred feet of the cache site. This is little more than a two-miles roundtrip on good logging roads with only a little cross-country through a burned out area at the end. The elevation gain is about 400 feet. The view is incredible.