Darrington, a small mountain town in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, stands where two rivers once joined in a valley between the Sauk and the Stillaguamish rivers, and between Gold Hill to the east and Whitehorse Mountain to the west. Shifting sand and river rock formed a portage surrounded by towering Douglas fir and cedar trees. Over time a community took root, a town grew, and a history formed.

The Sauk-Suiattle tribe was first to settle the valley, traveling in canoes carved from cedar and fishing the rivers for salmon and steelhead. In the summer and fall they journeyed into the mountains to gather berries and collect wool from mountain goats. The Sauk Prairie, well known for its fertile soils and multitude of edible roots, was their village site. Later, miners from the east arrived in search of gold in these same mountain rivers, followed by loggers who came to harvest the dense forests of fir and cedar. Many of the loggers came from the South and from Sweden. With them they brought traditional ways, food, and music that is still evident today. You can still enjoy the music of the South at the Bluegrass Music Festival in mid-July