Davis Creek Road is open from the west as far as the washed out bridge over the creek. Just before the bridge, Forest Road 63 goes left uphill. There are no Forest Service signs on the road for about five miles. The road has been repaired this summer and currently is in good condition. It has had quite a number of washouts in the last two winters, so I wouldn't count on it staying in good shape if we have another hard winter.
There is a sign on the left side of the road: Purcell Mt. trail. We parked on the road edge and realized the hiking route starts with an abandoned road which has gotten very little use as a trail recently. It leads to Davis Creek in about a half mile. There once was a bridge over the creek, but it is long gone. The creek is shallow in late August, but the wet rocks are slippery. After climbing up the other bank, it took us a while to find the overgrown road on that side that zigzags up the hill to the trail.
This section of the trail is easy to follow, although littered with fallen trees. After a mile or so, you reach the meadows and the trail is more difficult to follow. Someone came through with flagging tape and left a few markers, which help. Unfortunately, a colony of mountain beavers has built a tunnel complex under the trail, making every step a challenge.
Eventually we reached the junction with the ridge trail, and were amazed to see it cross the upper meadow with a growth of blooming asters - a lavender line across the green late summer meadow.
At this point, we could not see the trail, but could feel it with our feet, and followed it to the Purcell Mt. summit and lookout site. A number of cement footing blocks, melted glass and metal fittings remain - a testament to the demise of the lookout building by fire.
It was beautiful day and a challenging exploration.