West Fork Miller RIver

In his classic Footsore II guide, Harvey Manning described the West Fork Miller River valley as the best place to study "old idiocies, old middens, and old junk" , referring to the many attempts at mining in the area. A deteriorating old road heads up the valley, offering the hiker a chance to view the mining artifacts and impressive granite cliffs that loom above the canyon.

It was a boiling hot day when we did the hike, but shade was abundant and the raging West Fork of the Miller River cooled the air. The old road heading up the valley gets worse every year, what with all the avalanches, erosion, and encroaching brush. The first mile in particular is an exercise in boulder hopping. Swollen with snowmelt, the river is an impressive sight as it roars down a boulder-choked gorge.

Beyond the large new rockslide, the valley gentles a bit and the road/trail gets a bit better, with sections of intact tread alternating with eroded areas. It has even received some sporadic volunteer maintenance. Many of the old mining artifacts have disappeared into the brush since Harvey Manning's days, but there is a poignant spot with a gravesite and descriptive sign at about the 1.5 mile mark.

Three miles form the trailhead, the road reaches a junction with the Coney Basin trail, marked by flagging. A bit farther, Coney Creek is reached, flooded with snowmelt and not easily crossed. Running out of time, we turned around here. From Coney Creek, the road continues another mile to a once heavily developed mining site and camp area.