Spent the 4th of July weekend at Siouxon Creek and we got a bit wet Friday setting up camp. The falls were beautiful and the river was crystal clear. Explored on Saturday along Chinook Trail #130A, enjoyed waterfalls and some sun! Sunday, we took off for Horseshoe Ridge to make a loop. Started the unmarked access farther down from West Creak and it is STEEP! The clouds were low but we pressed on for the adventure! A few logs to cross near the top and then sedges and quiet fog-bound hiking. One Elk encounter, lunch, then on we pressed... and it got BAD. Seemed like a war zone along the ridge. At times only the vague outline of a trail - observation skills imperative! Then the real fun began! Blow-downs everywhere! One wild animal heard and not seen to creep us out and still we pressed on. Over, under, over, under, through and DOWN. Lots of pink flagging around so we must have been ahead of the trail maintenance crew! We finally rejoined the Siouxon trail and made a short and happy journey (tired and un-eaten) back to camp.

Slept in Monday and encounterd a LOT of people on our way out. Hiker and biker. Sun was out in force by the time we arrived at the car (of course). But, a great adventure and fun with friends in the woods!

We hiked in on the Lower Siouxon Creek Trail and camped 3 miles in near the Wild Cat Creek at an established campground. The hike starts heading downhill and continues relatively flat for the next few miles. The trail is in good shape all the way to the campsite. Make sure to have a camera ready along the way as you will pass beautiful stretches of river including waterfalls.

The Horseshoe ridge trail stems off the Siouxon Trail, on the right, just past the Wild Cat Creek. This trail was logged out and is clear for about 2 miles going up hill. The corridor is clear and is usable to hikers and bikers (thanks to Henry and his crew). Equestrian users may want to be cautious on this trail. The Horseshoe Ridge Trail loops around back onto the Lower Siouxon Trail (you pass this hiking in), but is littered with blow downs. Steep trail and uncleared corridor makes it difficult to hike. This was a fun trail to hike. It needs a little more work but is heading in the right direction!

This hike was actually done in conjunction with a WTA log out on the eastern access of the Horseshoe Ridge Trail. But since the last online trip report for this trail was posted in 1999, I thought I would write a brief report, even though I only hiked about 2 1/2 miles of the trail.

Souixon Trail #130 meanders along Souixon Creek in the Mt St Helen's District of the GPNF. This trail is very popular with mountain bikers, but is also a low impact hiking trail that is good for all family members from young children to active grandparents. The trail traverses through second growth forest with some very impressive old growth snags. There are several minor water falls on Souixon Creek that add some points of interest. At about 1 mile from the trailhead is a junction with the western terminus of the Horseshoe Ridge Trail. This trail is severely unmaintained and poorly designed and constructed with portions of it going right up the fall line.

To get to the trailhead drive to the Chelatchie Prairie General Store on State Route 503. Head east on Healy Road, which turns into FR54. At about 9 mile from the store turn left onto FR57. This road is unsigned but is the first paved left turn off FR54. The first left off FR57 is FR5701. This road dead ends at the trailhead, which is located by the cedar rail fence. A short trail takes you down to the main trail. Turn right at the sign and head east on the trail. This is an out and back hike, but very scenic and worth the trip. The roads to the trailhead are poorly maintained, but are passable for passenger cars.

WTA is in the process of logging out on the Horseshoe Ridge Trail in the hope that someday a loop hike can be created, although it will take considerable effort and some complete reconstruction to make that happen.