On Friday, I got a hankering to visit the Pratt River valley and find the elusive Big Tree that grows there. It will a long time before the new trail construction is complete to the Pratt River, but a sporadically maintained path exists now that intrepid hikers can use to get there. Much of the way, this path follows the route of the old pack trail from North Bend, and remnants of the trail still can be seen.

Starting at the Middle Fork Trailhead, I crossed the big bridge over the river, then veered right onto the temporary trail now being used by the trail crews. In a quarter mile, this trail ended at a gravel bar by the river. I continued hiking on an alder-lined path crossing the gravel bar. Eventually, this path ran into a river side bluff, over which the trail climbed to get to Rainy Creek. Remnants of old puncheon from the former pack trail can be seen on top of the bluff.

The path soon descended into the Rainy Creek valley and branched at an unsigned junction. The left fork heads for Rainy Lake; I took the right fork, which crosses Rainy Creek's flood plain. The path here was in fairly decent condition, though brushy in spots. Rainy Creek was crossed by a footlog, whose top had been expertly carved into a flat walking surface.

Hiking the next half mile of the Pratt River route was arduous, as the trail worked its way over granite bluffs and across steep boulder-chocked creek beds. Signs of the old pack trail were visible here, too. A rotting log structure that once supported the trail hung out over the slope precariously. Rounding the last bluff, the old trail followed a shelf that had been blasted into the cliff. I watched my step carefully here, as it was a long drop down to the river.

Past the bluff, the trail descended to gentler terrain. A high cliff with a cave in it marked the end of the difficult section. A remarkably well preserved stretch of the old pack trail continued from here that provided easy walking for about a half mile. The trail crews rebuilding the Pratt River trail are going to enjoy working here--they will have not too much to do.

The fun ended at a rocky landslide/ debris flow. Cairns led me across the rocks and onto the bench beyond, where the path became distinctly rougher, though still easy to follow. Bits of the old pack trail's tread were apparent, and sometimes the current path took advantage of them. Soon,however, signs of the old trail were lost, and the current trail then took the path of least resistance, picking a relatively brush-free route along forested ridges. Lots of mud holes, random climbs, and dips made the hiking here tiring. After perhaps a mile, the path climbed steeply up a rocky creekbed for a spell, reached a high point in dense second growth forest, then descended to the end of an old logging road.

The path then followed the logging road all the way to the Pratt River. The hiking was straightforward on this stretch, although the heavy growth of salmonberry just about everywhere on the road was annoying. After a long mile, the road/ trail gradually descended to the river, where it reached a junction (no sign, of course). The right hand trail heads to a riverside meadow, the site of the former Halfway House, and an important fording point on the river. I took the left branch, which provides a shortcut into the Pratt River valley.

This shortcut trail, perhaps following an old road or railroad grade, was muddy and rough, though easy enough to follow. After a long half mile, it joined the official Pratt River Trail coming up from the Halfway House meadow and river ford ( Reportedly, this trail is in very bad condition). Beyond this junction, the Pratt River trail was in spots muddy and nasty, while fairly decent in other places. The forest had been logged a long time ago, and the trees have grown large and attractive, almost old growth in appearance.

At length, I arrived at a junction with a nice new sign indicating the path to the Big Trees. A poor (but thankfully non-brushy) trail traversed the side of a hill, then joined an old railroad grade, muddy and choked with a few too many fallen logs, which it followed down toward the Pratt River. Finally I arrived at my goal for the day, the Big Tree. At over nine feet and diameter and 230 feet tall (as indicated by a sign), this massive Douglas Fir was indeed impressive....although I suspect that few people will think it worth the nearly 5 mile hike to get to it.

The best reason to do this hike is to experience the quiet and beauty of the remote Pratt River Valley. When the new trail is built, much of this remoteness will be gone, although the improved access will be welcome.

Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours each way to get from the Middle Fork trailhead to the Pratt River on the current rough trail. Late in summer, the river can be safely forded, making access much quicker to the area.