Headed out early Saturday morning, picked up our back country permit in Marblemount and were on the trail by 9am or so. We headed up the Thunder Creek trail to McAllister Camp. The trail is close to 100% melted out, but there are some blowdowns. We took off our boots to wade across McAllister creek since there were only slippery logs to walk on and somewhat deep water. Saying it was cold is a total understatement.

We were the only folks camping at McAllister camp and we only saw one other person on the trail on Saturday. There were a few sprinkles, but for the most part it was sunny and warm. I thought it was crazy we had the place to ourselves! There were mosquitoes out in this area, so we were glad we brought our DEET.

After we set up camp, we headed up to Tricouni camp to check it out. It was nice, but I think McAllister was a good choice. We had a little beach to ourselves with a waterfall across the river. All the way to Tricouni is melted out also.

On Sunday we packed up and decided to make a detour to check out Fourth of July pass. We had some better views of the peaks on the way up. Snow started at about 3300 feet and we decided to turn back after finding a nice ledge to check out the views. We heard from a couple that most of the camps are melted out at Fourth of July camp, but that they didn't see footprints in the snow past the camp towards the pass.

This is a very pretty area for some shoulder season backpacking. There are only peak a boo views of the great peaks around, but the mossy forest and greenish river are very beautiful.

My girlfriend and I set out from Colonial Creek campground with our son and his friend around 8am, with the intent of heading up to the pass. We'd originally intended to start a bit earlier, but got in late the night before so opted for a bit of extra sleep. Unfortunately, even with the sleep, the two boys (15 yrs old) were still farily tired and grumbled quite a bit.

As described, the first bit of the trail follows along the the creek, rolling along. Once across the bridge, it picks up a bit. We ran into some other hikers, and we all meandered walk through the Thunder Creek campground, and eventually found the sign at the junction where you can choose to head along Thunder Creek or up to Fourth of July.

We made the turn toward the Pass; up to this point, the boys were doing ok, but after we began our ascent, my girlfriend and I ended up going ahead, and coming back quite often to check on the linguering teenagers. Had they had a full night's sleep, this likely wouldn't have been nearly as arduous for them--or us.

NOTE: I didn't have a map of the area, so had hoped to pick one up in Darrington on our drive up--but ended up going into 4 different gas stations without any luck. We finally found a good topo map of the area at the Shell station in Marble Mount. A map probably isn't really necessary for this hike--it's very well marked; but, I'm one who likes to have a good map, and won't generally go without one, so I was very thankful to the folks at the gas station.

The inital set of switchbacks eventually levels out a little as it wanders around Ruby Mountain, then switches back and forth a bit before reaching Fourth of July camp. We were running out of time--I'd told our friends back at camp to expect us back by 2, or something was wrong, and we were pushing our limits at this point. We ran into the same people we'd seen back at the bridge--they'd already made the pass and were heading the other way. We asked if it was worth our pushing the time limits, and the gentleman was very helpful. His take: if you're a "view" type person (and you're low on time), enjoy Fourth of July camp, and head back. If you are a "lush forest" type, then go see the pass.

My girlfriend and I are both "view" type folks (lush forests are cool, but I'll take views every time), so we opted to take a couple of photos at the camp and head down. Incidentally, the boys were a bit behind at this point so we kindly asked the other group of hikers to let them know they could opt to turn back if they saw them first.

We met up with the boys not far from the camp. They were a bit disappointed that they didn't make it to the camp, but we really needed to get back down before we really started pushing our time limits--this was a grand mistake on my part that I wouldn't figure out for another mile. I realized that, even on the way down the youngsters weren't moving very fast. Now, in retrospect, I would have pushed our "alert" return time much farther out--I don't like to rush people.

Not wanting to alarm our waiting friends back at camp, I opted to run ahead--literally, RUN--while my girlfriend continued back with the boys. I did run into a few groups making their way up, who gave the bounding man with the full pack a few strange glances. I did stop briefly for a couple back at the first set of switchbacks, who asked "is it this steep all the way?" I let them know it would start being more forgiving soon. They were also kind enough to pass along a message to my girlfriend--they would let she and the boys know to just take their time and enjoy themselves.

I managed to get back to camp a little before our friends decided to come looking for us, and then turned around to go back after my party. Admittedly, I enjoyed the challenge, and the workout; and, it seemed that my gilrfriend enjoyed the descent, and the opportunity to take a few photos.

I'd love to go back in the future--I think it would be great to camp at Fourth of July Campground (back country permit required), and then make the ascent up Ruby Mountain. Perhaps in the future... and, though I love 'em, perhaps sans teenagers.

This a beautiful forest for a hike. The Thunder Creek trail has huge old growth forest trees and for most of the way the forest floor is covered with a deep green carpet of vegetation. There is even a lot of this vegetation on the rocks which makes sitting for a break all the more comfortable. The 4th of July portion of the trail is indeed steep but not overwhelming. The ~80% forest cover probably helps by keeping you out of the sun. Those few breaks in the cover allow some peek-a-boo views of what lies ahead at the 4th of July camp.
The trail is very good but one creek crossing just past the first section of switchbacks and the trail just a little past that would be dangerous if you were to stumble off the side of the track. The wildflowers are not going to make you forget Paradise but they are there in several varieties. The previous report says that dogs are not allowed but I did not see that on the signboard. There were 3 dogs on the trail that day and all were well behaved. I guess if you want to be sure, contact the Park Service. There were a fair number of mosquitoes, for some reason concentrated in the higher elevations of the trail.
At the camp there were no campers and we saw none coming up on our way out at 7pm. Continuing on past the camp, the overlook into the Panther Potholes is on the right where you can see a steep dropoff. We never did find a marker for the pass (every other point on the trail is well marked). The pass area is really just another nice forest walk but with no views.
I also wanted to mention that you do not need any kind of pass to park at the Colonial Creek campground for a day hike. We did have to park some distance away from the trailhead.

Hiked up to the Fourth of July Pass with my daughter. I am not sure everyone knows this (I didn't until last week), but you need a permit to camp in the North Cascades National Park. They are not kidding about it --- a ranger checked ours on the way up, and she did everything but look for watermarks! You can only get the permit on the day of the hike (or the night before), and only in person at the *closest* ranger station to the trailhead, so no cheating. We scored the last of the 3 permits for the 4th of July Camp, and sure enough there were two other parties there.

Also, dogs are not allowed on the trail. And we only saw one, not bad.

There is very little trailhead parking, you need to park way off and walk through Colonial Creek Campground. The actual Thunder Creek trail is flat and easy up to the bridge (which is not where the map says it is), but still pleasant. After walking through Thunder Camp (badly overused, doesn't feel like a wilderness camp at all), we turned up 4th of July Trail.

This baby climbs! 2100 feet in 2.5 miles, but most of it done in two rather steep portions in the beginning and the end. Not bad, but far more excersize that the average 5 mile, 2300 feet trail would provide. However, the trail is in superb condition, easy walking with a bunch of easily hopped-over small creeks. The views towards the glaciers get progressively better as you climb.

The Camp is pretty great. There is one campsite on the right, very scenic and isolated. There are two on the left, past the day-use area. One is isolated on the cliff side, the other more forested and closer to the trail. Water needs to be carried about 200 yards from a nearby creek. The views are great, and with only two neighbors, it is not crowded at all.

The trail continues to the pass proper (nothing to write home about), but the overlook of the Pothole lakes is nice. We didn't find a trail to the lakes, but we didn't search too hard.