What kind of views of Puget Sound from hills in Arlington -Granite Falls? (Seattle: living)

[WestGuest]

I know this is a somewhat esoteric question . From the hills East of Granite Falls it seems about 12.8 miles to the sound. What are the views like ? Is the sound clearly visible? By the way is Granite Falls more of a suburb or a stand-alone town? Thanks

[dav51lin]

trees

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by WestGuest

I know this is a somewhat esoteric question . From the hills East of Granite Falls it seems about 12.8 miles to the sound. What are the views like ? Is the sound clearly visible? By the way is Granite Falls more of a suburb or a stand-alone town? Thanks

You can see the Sound from the top of Mt Pilchuck just outside of Granite Falls, just the hills around Granite wouldn't give you that view. Granite is fairly standalone, though not too far from Lake Stevens.

[elkotronics]

You can see the Sound from the top of Mt Pilchuck just outside of Granite Falls, just the hills around Granite wouldn't give you that view. Granite is fairly standalone, though not too far from Lake Stevens.

I highly recommend that you take the Lake 22 hike on the north face of Mt.Pilchuck. It is a fairly difficult hike, you'll need to step up over roots and large rocks now and then, and the gait on the hike is tough. I did it with my wife back in the late 80's. The view to the west from a certain spot shows the Everett skyline and the Olympic Mts. way off to the west.

Lake 22 is right below the north face of Mt. Pilchuck. The reward of seeing that lake is worth it enough, but the rest of the surrounding beauty makes it all the more worthwhile.

[willow9713]

Are you asking for hiking or living?

Granite Falls is very rural and over the past 10-15 years has become a bedroom community.

Traffic like everywhere on the western side of the state is an issue so 12 miles as the crow flies means an hour or more to get to the sound

[Transmition]

There are a few spots just west of SR-9 in Lake Stevens and Marysville where you can see the sound. East of that I don't think there is anywhere you can see it without climbing a mountain.

[mayfair]

If you want stand-alone small towns with Sound views, Stanwood or Anacortes would be it north of Seattle.

[pnwguy2]

You would have to be at a high elevation to even get a glimpse of The Sound. And even then you would be miles away.
If you want views in Western Washington your better bet is eastern King or Snohomish Counties looking east toward the Cascades. A prime western view does exist, but it will cost.