Three O'Clock Rock — Big Tree
🚐 Join the caravan
Big Tree is one of the original Darrington slab lines on the South Buttress of Three O'Clock Rock — 4 pitches, ~500 ft, Grade II-III at 5.7-5.8. P1 follows a zig-zag crack to a treed ledge; upper pitches move onto bolted-but-runout sustained 5.8 slab. Numerically moderate and in-band, but it climbs like a classic bold Darrington slab.
🚗 Getting there & comms
Trailhead: Eightmile Creek Trailhead (FS Road 2060)
From Darrington, S on Mountain Loop Hwy ~2.5 mi, right on FR 2060; ~5.5-6 mi up, stay right; park ~0.5 mi past the fork. ~20-30 min from town.
⛽ Last services: Darrington (gas, IGA, café). Hospital in Arlington ~30 mi W.
📶 Cell signal: Effectively none — carry a PLB/inReach.
🧗 Routes
🥾 Approach · descent · season
Approach: From the TH, a steep trail through second-growth + big cedars; ~30-40 min the trail exits onto talus — a climber's path breaks up and LEFT to the South Buttress / Big Tree.
⬇️ Descent: Rappel — 50m double-rope raps off the tree/bolt stations (not single-rope-descendable).
🗓️ Season: Late spring-early fall (May-Oct); best when dry. Friction dangerous wet.
🎒 Gear & food
Rack: Single rack to 3" + many long slings; optional 4" low. Upper slab is bolted.
Ropes: Double 50-60m ropes for the rappel.
✅ Before you leave the trailhead
Auto-built from this dossier — ticks save on this device.
🏕️ Land · camp · water · permits
🪧 Land & passes: Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF (Darrington RD).
📋 Permits: NW Forest Pass to park.
⚠️ Hazards · fire · emergency
- RUNOUT SLAB (PG13) — old-school bolt spacing; P3 'may feel run-out' on sustained 5.8.
- Long slab slides between widely-spaced pro
- Wet rock kills friction
- Double-rope rappel descent
- Loose flakes — helmet
🆘 Emergency contacts
- Emergency 911 — Remote — carry PLB/inReach
- Cascade Valley Hospital ER, Arlington 360-435-2133 — Nearest ER, ~30 mi W
🌤️ Live conditions
Auto-updated 20h ago · °F · tap a link for the mountain-specific picture ↓
👀 In the field
Tap any for ID, edibility & first-aid.
📍 Nearby & other interest
- Silent Running (5.10a)
- Total Soul (5.10b)
- Green Giant Buttress (Dreamer 5.9)
💬 Comments
Comments are reviewed before they show up.