Mesatchee Creek

The trail was at times tough and unmaintained and the mosquitoes persistent, but the 360 panoramas at the top of American Ridge and from a viewpoint above Big Basin made it well worth the round trip of 16 miles.

After passing gobs of people packing the Mt. Rainier parking lots, we pulled into the Mesatchee Creek trailhead to find no cars. On a 3-day holiday weekend. We got confused at the start of the trail. You follow trail that turns into a road -- and we accidentally took the right fork. Take the left road, where you pass between two boulders. You'll eventually come to a bridge to cross a creek. Then there is a larger river to cross. There is a good log dam to cross on -- we tried the water crossing on the way back (we were hot!) but it's waist deep for someone who is 5' 8'', so I'd avoid unless you're taller.

The views of Rainier were great as we switch-backed up the creek. Then there is a long, moderate uphill as you get closer to the top of the valley. Near the ridge, a few snow fields dot the trail, but they were melting out fast and were easily crossed.

At the ridge, the views were incredible. We headed left at the junction with the American Ridge Trail, toward Big Basin. The trail becomes much rougher -- rocky, few switchbacks, really steep grades. But after doing some killer ups and downs, we found Big Basin which was gorgeous. It was empty, except for us and about a dozen elk. There are water sources here, but a few of them are likely to dry up in the next week or so as the snow disappears.

We scrambled to the top of the closest peak overlooking the basin and saw the most incredible 360 degree panoramas I've every seen in Washington. Better than the Enchantments, better than the top of the Hoh River valley. You could see Adams, Rainier, St. Helens, Baker, Glacier. Incredible. Be sure and check out the decades-old peak registry.

Was it a little rough going at times? Yes, but I'd do it again. The views are worth the effort.