Just east of Gold Mountain are Prairie and White Chuck Mountains and Rat Trap Pass (3160'). Along with the Mountain Loop Hwy and SR530, when you add Forest Service Roads 23, 27, and 25, and Suiattle River Road, you have a wonderful 45 miler way off the beaten path. This loop was my last bucket list gravel ride for 2020 (with altitude) and the new snow turned it from gravel tires to the wider ones for climbing and safety. Since I didn't know how much snow was back there at 3100' I wasn't sure if the loop was possible. I parked at the Beaver Lake trailhead, instead of downtown Darrington and went to the entrance of FS-23 at 6:30am with lights blazing. Roads were damp but good until about 2000' where a dusting of snow and slushyness started. White Chuck Mountain provided a little shadow so I only saw about 4" of snow at the Rat Trap Pass but it was enough to make the descent, on the other side, a little dicy. The road has a lot of damage after the Pass summit so it was good to have the full suspension and bigger tires. But after the descent, the knobby tires were a hassle for the 30 miles remaining back to the car on pavement. For you gravellers, do this next Summer if you are looking to get away to someplace new. There are a couple slides and eroded sections of road so vehicles are not able to do the whole loop, only 2 wheelers. It was a beautiful ride but probably even better without snow and in July or August.  GPS Track and pictures are here.