Ingalls Creek
May 19, 2012
by
University Congregational Hikers
—
last modified
May 20, 2012 12:49 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Ingalls Creek
- Region: Central Cascades -- Blewett Pass
- Agency: Wenatchee Okanogan National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District
- Trails: Ingalls Creek (#1215)
- Avg Rating: 3.57
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
- Clogged drainage
- Mudholes
- Water on trail
- Snow on trail
A beautiful day in the Ingalls Creek valley. We went as far as the Falls Creek Trail junction. We encountered no snow except for a single, easily crossed, level 25-yard patch shortly before the Falls Creek junction. All the campsites at Falls Creek Camp (at that trail junction) were snowfree and appeared to be dry.
Wildflowers were getting good. Balsamroot good toward the start, and Paintbrush (ranging from orange to yellow) starting to bloom all along the trail. The first few Lupines just beginning to flower. A few Calypso Orchids somewhat farther on. Several spectacular Trillium displays around and after the 5 mile point, sometimes intermingled with Glacier Lilies. Nevertheless, except perhaps for the Trillium and Glacier Lilies, the best wildflower displays are at least one, and probably two, weeks in the future.
No real problem deadfalls; most are just stride-acrosses; one or two will slow you a few seconds, but no major clamber-overs. Just a few muddy spots. No difficult sidestream crossings. There are a few short stretches of trail that could use some drainage work, especially just before the viewspot about 4 miles in.
This trail has numerous good camp spots in the first few miles; many were in use by families with small kids by the time we hiked out about suppertime. Good lunch spots at the aforementioned downvalley view at about 4 miles, along the creek near the Falls Creek confluence, and along the gravel bar at the Falls Creek trail ford a half-mile or so farther.
Wildflowers were getting good. Balsamroot good toward the start, and Paintbrush (ranging from orange to yellow) starting to bloom all along the trail. The first few Lupines just beginning to flower. A few Calypso Orchids somewhat farther on. Several spectacular Trillium displays around and after the 5 mile point, sometimes intermingled with Glacier Lilies. Nevertheless, except perhaps for the Trillium and Glacier Lilies, the best wildflower displays are at least one, and probably two, weeks in the future.
No real problem deadfalls; most are just stride-acrosses; one or two will slow you a few seconds, but no major clamber-overs. Just a few muddy spots. No difficult sidestream crossings. There are a few short stretches of trail that could use some drainage work, especially just before the viewspot about 4 miles in.
This trail has numerous good camp spots in the first few miles; many were in use by families with small kids by the time we hiked out about suppertime. Good lunch spots at the aforementioned downvalley view at about 4 miles, along the creek near the Falls Creek confluence, and along the gravel bar at the Falls Creek trail ford a half-mile or so farther.
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