Tunnel Creek

The road to the Tunnel Creek trailhead (Penny Creek Rd. side) was in good shape, with only a few potholes to dodge. Granted, the leaves on the road made them a bit tricky to spot at times. A lovely ruffed grouse along the road gave us a good long look. We arrived at 9 a.m.; one other car was at the trailhead, belonging to a party that had spent the night in the shelter 2.7 miles up the trail.

This is a fine fall trail if you are in the mood for moss, mushrooms, lichens, and solitude. The trail was in terrific shape. It climbs rather steeply after the bridge, and we certainly had to be mindful of the slippery roots and rocks. After reaching Harrison Lake we climbed to the 5050 ridgetop and had lunch on a rock in a cloud, reading aloud the guidebook's advice about enjoying the view of Mt. Constance and employing our imaginations. The weather forecasters were right on the mark, however, as we did not experience a drop of rain.