So I obviously didn't figure out the stats on this trip correctly before deciding on it because it turned out to be twice as long and at least twice as hard as I thought it was going to be. Rock Creek trail is beautiful and recently worked by trail crews to the Basalt Ridge turn off. We found and took the turn-off from Rock Creek with no problem. However, BE WARNED that the trail from there works its way up to a small bridge crossing and immediately after that small bridge the Rock Creek Tie (#1538) turns off this trail to the right. HOWEVER, that junction looks decommissioned because the trail is covered in blow down debris, while the trail you are on continues, obviously well-used, straight ahead. Unfortunately after about a mile that well-used trail peters out into 8-foot tall vine maple. Does it go through to Basalt Ridge? Maybe. My maps show that it does not, but I don't know for sure because we checked the GPS and realized we were way off-course and turned back to find the real Rock Creek Tie trail well-hidden and obviously unmaintained for years, though two signs were found to be hanging at the junction to label it as the Rock Creek Tie.

Rock Creek Tie trail is at least 35% to up to 45% grade in places straight up a ridge. Definitely my heels were in "four-wheel drive" position most of the way up. Unfortunately, the lack of maintenance for what looks like three years or more has led to the trail being covered most of the way with blown down trees and debris on top of more trees and debris. Also, near the top vine maple and young trees are a significant and annoying challenge. It was twice as hard to navigate and power up this old-school trail as it would have been if well-maintained. Eat your Wheaties!

Once we made Basalt Ridge, it was smooth sailing but NO WATER so tank up before coming up to the Basalt Peak area. Snow was almost totally melted out. Mosquitoes were fierce, but good motivation to keep moving. Others have explained the Basalt Peak area so I'll skip that, except to say it was our "second-lunch" spot. As we made a loop of this trip, we headed down from Basalt Peak on the Basalt Ridge trail again (or is it Minnow Creek trail at that point on that side of the Basalt Peak?) to the south. At about 4600' on the Minnow Creek trail, there is a lovely water source next to the trail to refill water bottles, but that's it for the trip without a lot of ugly bush-whacking so take advantage if you're running low. At around 4400' we took the right hand turn onto the Finner Creek trail (not listed in WTA databases!), which drops directly to Finner Creek campground on the Chiwawa River Road. Others have reported this trail is in bad shape so we were concerned, but we lucked out and trail crews had just finished working on this trail and they were THOROUGH! Trail was in the best shape of any trail I think I've ever been on. :) Good job, crew!

Once we got back to Chiwawa River Road at the Finner Creek CG, we walked back up the road 1.6 miles to the Rock Creek TH where we had left the truck. (FYI, we tried the old trail paralleling the road that might have taken us back to our TH without any road travel but it was stacked with blowdowns and I was too tired to put up with that so we headed back down to the road.) We wanted to stroll back up the road, but mosquitoes made that unbearable so we double-timed instead. All in all I would recommend taking the Minnow Creek trail to Basalt Peak if you are looking for a simple, pleasant day-hike, but if you are interested in a challenge or training route, this loop fit the bill.

This is a long forest hike on a trail hung on the side of the creek canyon. We got out ahead of the rainy weather, but it caught up to us about 3 miles in. The lower trail is in mostly good condition, the USFS has been working on the trail. Past 3 miles the trail is heavily trenched and eroded in places and there are numerous blowdowns, some easy, some hard to get around.There is a massive pile of avalanche debris (snow, branches and stacks of entire trees) at the creek crossing at about 4 miles. The crossing can be made safely, but requires some route finding to relocate the trail on the other side (coming and going). After puddle splashing in the rain to the first ford at 6.5 miles and getting totally soaked in the overgrown sections, we camped in the forest near the ford. The creek was running too high to wade, so we day hiked cross country about a mile through mostly open forest on Sunday to Rock Creek Meadows and on above to the next meadow opening where we turned around. Above the meadow there are snow patches on the trail in the forested sections. The main meadow is about a week away from full flowering. With all the blowdown, big avi pile,muddy spots and the high creek levels this hike is not an easy straightforward walk yet.

A party of three, we started on the trail late in the morning. The trail gradually climbs for the first couple of miles then levels for a couple more. Here is where the trail crosses the boundary from National Forest to Glacier Wilderness at about 5 miles. The trail soon climbs steeply with some switch backs up into the meadow. The trail crosses the creek twice and the campsites are just after the second crossing. I forgot to note this and we continued for about another mile and a quarter or until about 5,400' elev. where the trail became overwhelmed with downed timbers. Signs of avalanche blowdown are everywhere at this level and the trail becomes impenetrable. On the way in we crossed paths with a dayhiker who tried to make the loop going up over Carne Mt. but ran into the other side of the swath and had to retreat. We turned back to the sites and made camp.

We had a nice camp; bugs were present but not too bad. The flowers are past there peak with mostly asters and a paintbrush here and there. The weather was warm but not bad, though the dust was heavy - we spaced out on the trail to not choke on it. The huckleberries are in full swing and are delicious. Good times.

I hiked in, camped 2 nights, and hiked out. The trail was in decent shape, only a few blowdowns and all were easy to climb over. A few mud spots early on, but nothing bad. The two creek crossings before the meadow were wade-able with appropriate footwear: knee-deep (and really cold!) water and slippery rocks. I changed into sandals for those crossings and didn't have any problems.

The meadow was gorgeous! Lupine, Queen Anne's lace, and paintbrush flowers were in full bloom. I saw chipmunks, bunnies, deer, ptarmigan, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, western tanagers, and some very curious evening grosbeaks, as well as a variety of other birds. The birdsong was incredible, just non-stop conversation.

My only "complaint" was the mosquitos... they were voracious. Otherwise, a great hike and had the place to myself for 3 days.