Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Deception Creek
Featured In:
Day Hiking: Central Cascades,
by Craig Romano.
A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails. A pure delight to hike, this lightly traveled trail has recently received some heavy maintenance thanks to the Washington Trails Association. The way starts off easy and immediately enters magnificent old-growth forest. In 0.25 mile cross the wilderness boundary, and soon afterward reach an impressive bridge spanning Deception Creek. Sun-kissed granite ledges granting captivating views of frothy rapids may tempt you to linger, while giant boulders may entice young hikers to scout for gnomes and hobbits. Now pulling away from the creek, the trail crosses an amazing stand of giant cedars before beginning to climb. As the trail steeply gains nearly 1000 feet in 1 mile, Deception Creek fades from sight, but not from sound. Crashing Sawyer Creek (elev. 2900 ft) soon becomes audible, and the trail descends slightly to cross it. In 2007 the footlog spanning it collapsed. If it hasn't been replaced, you may be forced to call it a day here, for fording this swiftly flowing creek can be dangerous. Once beyond Sawyer Creek, the trail continues on a more leisurely course. Nearly level and traversing more spectacular old growth, at 3 miles the trail reacquaints itself with Deception Creek. A quiet campsite invites lunchtime lounging or is a good place to call it quits if time and energy come up short. But some spectacular terrain lies ahead. After traversing lush flats, come upon a rocky chasm where Deception Creek tumbles into tiered pools and pothole basins. Farther up the valley, transition from dark ravine to an avalanche-opened area providing views of surrounding slopes and peaks. Resuming a mellow mood, the trail traverses more lush flats complete with impressive primeval trees, before reaching a junction at 4.8 miles (elev. 3150 ft). The trail right heads to Tonga Ridge, climbing 1500 feet in 2.3 miles. Continue left on the main trail for a few more hundred feet, finishing out at the confluence of Deception and Fisher creeks. Sunny gravel bars invite the weary to kick back and listen to soothing aquatic melodies before making the journey back to the trailhead.
Driving Directions:
Drive US 2 east to the small town of Skykomish. Continue for another 8 miles, turning right onto easy-to-miss Forest Road 6088. The turnoff is 0.25 mile east of the Deception Falls Interpretive Site. Follow FR 6088 for 0.4 mile to its end at the trailhead, located in a powerline swath (elev. 2000 ft). Coming W from Stevens Pass, note the hairpin, pass the tunnel portal and Scenic (on your left (S). FR 6088 will be almost 2 miles further west; if you get to Deception Falls picnic area, you've gone too far. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Features:
Fall foliage
Issues:
Overgrown | Mudholes | Water on trail
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My friend and I were a little worried as we made our way up Highway 2 to make this hike....
My friend and I were a little worried as we made our way up Highway 2 to make this hike. It started raining in earnest after we passed Index. We decided to make a go of it and took the short easy FSR 6088 just past Deception Falls and started our hike. We found just one truck at the trail head and never saw the person(s) involved the length of our hike.
The forest was damp and the sprinkles continued until after we crossed into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and over Deception Creek on the large log bridge. After this the trail climbed steadily for the next mile plus and we managed to climb above the rain! As we made our way along the trail it pulled away from the creek but went through some lush green moss covered forest the whole way. The berries, flowers and bugs were all gone. In their place with the recent rains are the start of mud holes and standing water, they are not bad now but will get messy in the weeks ahead. Underbrush crowds the trail in places but the tread is in good shape over all and easy to follow. The farther we went back the more early fall colors we saw. Yellows have spread to more than vine maple and more colors should be out in a week or two. We made our final stop at the second camp 3 miles or so up the trail. There was a nice bank here but after a short break we started back as we had remained fairly dry up to that point. The walk back was great as fog started rolling into this section of forest. While somewhat dark it gave the trail a feeling like a scene out of a fantasy novel. This was a great walk on a cloudy wet day through some great sheltered forest.
Deception Creek
— Sep 24, 2011
— Meg
Day hike
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Actually, I am getting this report out a week late or so. My friend and I hiked Deception Creek Sept...
Actually, I am getting this report out a week late or so. My friend and I hiked Deception Creek Sept 24th. Just wanted to add to the Sept 10th report - don't forget about this hike - that it truly is a beautiful hike and underused. It was a beautiful, clear skies Saturday and we saw only 2 others on the trail and 1 or 2 on the big rock at the first bridge. And no bears.
The trail is a gradual climb but quite continous along the creek. There had been rain a few days ago so the mushrooms were popping out all over. The evidence of winter storms were striking as there were so many trees down, some with BIG root balls attached. One of them had 6 trees attached to the root ball. We hiked to just above a waterfall. At that point we climbed down to the river bank and a camp site where we had lunch. There were so many interesting rocks along the river. This may have been 4 miles in or so. We had been to Deception Lakes years ago but I think the trail has been changed so we weren't exactly sure where we were. No bugs. No berries. I saw a mammal. I am not sure what it was. As we were going up I saw what looked like a big fluffy house cat(!). It had been drinking at the stream, saw me, turned around and disappeared into the undergrowth which was mostly bracken ferns. There were many burrows in this area. From what I have read about mountain beavers, this is probably what I saw but it just seemed too fluffy! It was very dark on this part of the trail so it was hard to see. I am sure it wasn't a marmot, fisher, wolverine(!). Was wondering if anyone else has seen anything like this on this trail or has seen a mountain beaver before. My friend had the camera so I can't share photos of the beautiful forest or the mushrooms but perhaps you can picture the day through this "Hike-u"! "Under orange mushrooms, Way down below storm tossed trees, Forest fairies hide.
Deception Lakes, Deception Creek
— Sep 10, 2011
— Rather-B-Hikin
Day hike
Features:
Ripe berries
Issues:
Bugs
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My husband and I took the Deception Creek trail to Decpetion Lakes. This is a beautiful trail and I am...
My husband and I took the Deception Creek trail to Decpetion Lakes. This is a beautiful trail and I am puzzled why it is so rarely used (good for us!) We saw only 4 groups for a total of about 6 people on this trail--on a Saturday! The trail is in good shape with just a couple of muddy spots which aren't too bad. The last of whatever blowdown that was on the trail was cleared just before we got there (big thanks to the guys lugging the huge saws and heavy gear all the way in there!!) There were some flies on the way up in spots and at the lake...but I've been through worse. There have been reports of bear sightings in the area but we never saw any- this week or last. LOTS of ripe berries and boletes though. The creek is FRIGID but the lake was just right for a swim! My only regret was not leaving earlier in the day. This is a long trek with quite a pull at the end. I could have used a couple more hours to take in the scenery. Next time I'm bringing my tent!
Day hike
Issues:
Mudholes | Water on trail | Bugs
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What a difference a few weeks makes. The trail was easily navigated except between the Sawyer Creek bridge...
What a difference a few weeks makes. The trail was easily navigated except between the Sawyer Creek bridge and Fisher creek where there were some pretty deep mud holes (I know because I went ankle-deep in one--should have followed my mudaphobic dog...)
There was some water on the trail but all passable even where Deception Creek and Fisher Creek meet-look to your right and you will see two logs over the creek. Upon inspection, you will also see this is where most people cross going to the pass. Our goal was just to hike to this point and play in the water. For those who have not hiked this trail (this was my first time) and use Romano's book, two things I discovered: both bridges are in great repair and the "trail off to the right" he mentions is not the first "right" you will take from the first campsite. You have to follow the trail right and will eventually see a sign marking the Pass and Tonga Ridge trail (I was not sure if I was on my way to Tonga Ridge at one point...) There are also a few brushy areas(especially in the avalanche area) so watch you step. But, all in all, if you just don't want to do Wallace Lake, again, or navigate through the snow that is still on the ridge, this is a great hike. PS put bug spray on before you leave the trailhead. Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Blowdowns | Water on trail
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Deception Creek 7/9/11
The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is famed for jagged peaks and high mountain lakes. Do not overlook it’s...
Deception Creek 7/9/11
The Alpine Lakes Wilderness is famed for jagged peaks and high mountain lakes. Do not overlook it’s forests and rivers. Deception Creek is a small river with it’s headwaters in the heart of the wilderness draining glaciated peaks. The forest in this river valley is lush, green, open and varied. I hiked the lower part of the valley, well below the snowline. This trail is well built but still has many rough places. It features two exceptional footbridges over Deception and Sawyer Creeks. The trail crew has cleared the lower trail of downed timber but two good sized trees are down within the first two miles, and... there is huge pile of intertwined downed trees at about 2 1/2 miles in. Because of the late snow the forest flowers are late and still blooming nicely. Thousands of Bunchberries (Dogwood) were featured. The trail pierces an outstanding forest of Fir, Hemlock, Cedar, and occasional deciduous trees. Drive Hiway 2 (Stevens Pass) till just past the Deception Falls turnoff (which is on the north side) and then turn south on FS Road 6088 for a very bumpy 1/2 mile to the trailhead. |
Photo by craftycoug.
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