I live in Yakima and come here at least yearly. no snow and no bugs yet. some flowers including a lady slipper just past the bridge by the water. no problems to the main falls- although pretty wet with the spray. probably the most water I've seen here (timing) and as noted the side trails are a bit steep with root scrambling required. we went about 1.7 miles ish up the trail. a number of trees across the trail -many we went under, some over and a few around. my knees did not love this. there is a section (I'm horrible with estimating distance- of about 100 feet) around maybe .7 miles in that has had a slide and the whole trail is detoured but we were able to keep the original path in sight. some paying attention required in sections as the trail is less obvious. as noted parts of the trail are sand like from the intense burn. the undergrowth is recovering and so its less black overall- the gray trees across the hill always make me think of a close up of an elephants backhair. we ended by heading down to the lovely sandy (frigid) pools where the trail finally levels off and is closest to the water again. I think about 1.7 miles. last year I remember someone had tied pink tags to mark the trail across some of the larger wash outs in the area so either we didn't make it that far or they are gone. we found part of a path to the water trying to avoid too much off trail tromping but mostly just followed downed trees to reach the water once it was close and visible. solitude past the falls as usual.

This loop trail is called the “Chinook Pass Loop” and described in the book Backpacking Washington.  I started at the Union Creek Trailhead off of Hwy 410.  Within a couple of miles I encountered the remnants of the Norse Mountain fire of 2017.  In places the trail is buried by fallen trees and  difficult to navigate.  I had finally hiked out of what I hoped was the last of the fire and actually was able to hike on a clear trail for about a mile when I encountered a stand of trees which had been leveled by an avalanche this past winter.  Rather than trying to follow the trail, I chose to try to find the least difficult way across the damage, then hook up with the trail on the other side.  Unfortunately, I missed a couple of switchbacks in the process and ended up well below the trail on a rather steep slope.  After some serious uphill scrambling/rock climbing, I was reunited with the trail.

The PCT is clearly where the trail maintenance work is done and was clear sailing.  It is unfortunate the amount of use that the campsites get along this trail.  I have found through and section hikers to not always be mindful about camping away from lakes and honoring others’ wilderness experiences.  I am always glad when I am able to get off the PCT again. 

 I dropped off the PCT onto the American Ridge trail, which was in good shape up until the junction with Trail #969 – Mesatchee Creek.  After that, it became very difficult to find and follow at times, as has been detailed by hikers before me.  I had visited the USFS site and read this trail report dated July 2019:  Trail is in good condition.  The natural slide slope and grade are very sustainable.  36 trees cleared from American lake to 2 miles from mesatchee.  36 trees cleared entire trail.  So I was hopeful that the trail was in better shape, but clearly they had only worked the trail before the Mesatchee junction and not the trail between that junction and Kettle Lake.  That part of the trail was simply impossible to find and follow in spots.  Fortunately I had some boot prints to follow when the soil was conducive for leaving prints.  Most of the time, I was on my own.  If you choose to hike this route, be prepared to find your way without a trail for much of it. 

 The Kettle Creek Trail was in fairly good shape although it also traveled through some burned areas.  I exited that trail across the American River and through the Pleasant Valley Campground, then crossed 410 and hiked the Pleasant Valley trail back to my car at the trailhead. 

 The mosquitoes were prolific and annoying along almost the entire trail.  Some black flies as well.  I was very glad that I had brought my bug spray and netting with me!  That said, I still came home with dozens (hundreds??) of bites.

We went as far as the upper falls viewpoint. This spot where there's a left turn down to get closer to the falls is really sketchy (both if you make the turn and if you try to continue straight). We turned around there and then went back to a lower falls viewpoint where the trail is less sketchy but still kinda! Overall it was sunny, dusty, and kind of steep. I think we only went a total of about a mile.

Was going to do Yakima Peak but it was in deep snow and socked in fog and I did not have my ice axe with me, so now what do I do?  I just jumped off of the road back to Yakima every time I saw a trailhead.  I did not continue after the falls since I had not researched this hike but the falls are well worth stopping to visit.  If you are in the area for some other reason and have an extra 45 minutes (at most) go on this hike.   Be sure to go right up the hill after the log bridge.  There is a trail that follows the creek but it does not have access to see the falls, and to get back on the trail requires either back tracking or (naughty) cutting up the hill to the other trail.

With the parking lots for hikes at Mt Rainier seemingly all overflowing, we headed over Chinook Pass and found the Union Creek trailhead virtually empty.

Trail was in better shape then we expected, but there were some downed trees to get over and the detour around the big washout mentioned in the description.   Both the lower and upper falls were pretty.  We followed the trail for another 2 miles past the upper falls and the trail was easy to follow.  Very spooky in that most of it was heavenly burned but an amazing number of trees were still standing.  Just before our turnaround point the trail was starting to thin out, but was marked with flagging where it wasn't obvious.

Didn't see anyone else on a beautiful Sunday past the lower falls.