Big Creek — Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021

I arrived at the trailhead close to 10 a.m. on a Sunday. The campgrounds are closed but the bathrooms are open with minimal maintenance, which also means no trash cans. You can park in the parking spaces before the gate (don't block the gate) or park on the the side of the road. I like to walk around the gate through the beginning part of the campground to the summer trailhead parking lot where the bathrooms are and take the trail near the pavilion. I took the clockwise route because my knees like incline and do not like steep descents. Once you hit the bridges and enjoy the constant engine of fast moving water, you get views of Mt. Ellinor and Mt. Washington in their snow-speckled glory. With most of the fall leaves on the ground, I'm thinking counter-clockwise is the way to go because there were so many wonderful glimpses of the mountains today. There were a few easy to step over fallen trees. This is one of the most well-maintained trails. What an amazing job the work crews continually do to make this a year round trail. Thank you.