Hiked the Wenaha-Tucannon loop as described by Douglas Lorain in Backpacking Washington, starting and ending at the Panjab Trailhead. Incredibly scenic, saw elk, bear and probably a moose, and no other people for five days. But had to contend with trails in dire need of maintenance due to previous wildfires, and some that have essentially been abandoned.
Route. Started at Panjab Trailhead (road was actually closed 2 miles before trailhead due to flood risk), then headed east on Mt Misery Trail to Diamond Peak. Turned south on Melton Creek trail, then Crooked Creek to Wenaha River. Up Smooth Ridge Trail from Fairview to Oregon Butte then back out Panjab Trail.
Trail conditions. Panjab has had a recent fire but is in okay shape (brush hasn't grown back enough to be a serious problem). Mt Misery trail to Diamond Peak was in great shape, although adjacent to some recent burns. Melton Creek trail was faint, brushy and had blowdowns, but very beautiful. Crooked Creek was increasingly brushy and in need of maintenance, and Wenaha River Trail from Crooked Creek to Fairview was similarly brushy and in need of maintenance after the more recent wildfires. Fording First Creek was a bit difficult due to unusually heavy spring rains, and fording Crooked Creek took some nerve and willingness to use log jambs as bridges - in a normal spring, neither would probably be too bad. Once atop the ridge from Fairview, the Smooth Ridge Trail is obliterated and essentially abandoned - it's had no maintenance since the 2015 fire season, which means hundreds (thousands?) of downed logs and extreme brush. Technically doable, but be prepared for extraordinarily slow progress, constant scrambling and bushwacking until you get closer to Twin Springs. Once at Twin Springs, it's not too bad all the way to Oregon Butte and back to Panjab, but trail still has not received recent maintenance, so expect pretty regular blowdowns and brush. Some snow on Mt Misery Trail and near Oregon Butte, but not bad.
Water. On Mount Misery, Dunlap Springs and camping area was burned in 2021(?); the pipe in the spring was displaced but the spring itself was still flowing. Clover Spring and the rest on this section were all fine. Plenty of creeks and springs after that, with Twin Springs in great shape. Lodgepole Spring has the pipe displaced but was able to get water at the spring. Some maps show a spring at Table camp just north of Oregon Butte, but I couldn't find any sign of it.
Wildlife. Plenty of elk and deer and I'm about 90% sure I saw a moose at one point on Mt. Misery Trail, which there are reports of. Saw plenty of bear sign and one bear. Ticks were bad at times, recommend treating or buying clothing with permethrin. Close encounters with a couple of rattlesnakes on Crooked Creek trail, keep an eye out on the lower elevations.
Summary. Beautiful, rugged and remote, but trails are in extreme need of maintenance or have been essentially abandoned, so only consider this exact route if you are comfortable with potentially dangerous scrambling over logs and mentally and physically prepared for route finding and bushwhacking.
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