Travertine is a light colored (darkens to gray when exposed to sun and air) concretionary limestone deposited around limy springs or streams.  It is characterized by imbedded (fossilized) leaves, twigs, small plants, and air pockets.

Directions to travertine deposit near Darrington Washington

Notice: the road has washed out so we'll have to wait for a repair, we don't know the timing.

From Seattle take I-5 North to Route 530 (Arlington-Darrington) [Note: the exit on I-5 for Route 530 is farther north than the exit for Route 531.]

Go to Darrington. Just inside the town limits, there is a “Backwoods Café” on the right (south) side of 530. They have very good cinnamon rolls.

In downtown Darrington, at the 4-way stop sign intersection, turn right on the Mountain Loop Highway (Forest Road 20). There is a Shell gas station on the NE corner. The Mountain Loop Highway sign is across the street on the SE corner.

Go 8.7 miles south. Within 0.2 mile of crossing a bridge over the Sauk River, there is a sign “Beaver Lake trailhead” on the right (west) side of the road. (If you get to the end of the pavement on the Mountain Loop Highway, you have gone too far.)

Turn left (east) and cross the bridge over the White Chuck river onto Forest Road 22.

Go 3.7 miles to Forest Road 24. This is a large triangular intersection.

Turn right on FR 24 and go 3.6 miles.

The travertine deposit is on the right.

It is not obviously a travertine deposit. It looks like a lot of moss covered rocks. However, the moss is hiding the travertine. About 25 feet up the hill is an exposure where some rock hounds have been digging. (There is a claim on this land, however the sign states that non-commercial rock hounds are welcome.) There is (cold) water running through part of the deposit.

There is a small space to pull off the road on the west side just past the travertine deposit. What works well is to pile your rocks alongside the road, then back up to load them.

Please note that this is a wet, muddy, slippery place. Be prepared to get wet and muddy. Bring bug repellent. From experience: a sledge hammer doesn’t work well on this rock. It just absorbs the impact. A pry bar or digging bar works well.