Siouxon Creek — Friday, May. 30, 2025

I've been wanting to explore the length of this trail for some time now (having only done shorter hikes years ago) and although the Big Hollow Fire obviously put the kibosh on plans for a while, a trickle of promising trip reports led me to venture out on a solo overnight trip last weekend.

The road in (especially 5701), although ostensibly paved, is rough enough in spots to where I'd recommend high-clearance. But if I had a dime for every sketchy road where I thought "no way could a sedan make this", and then of course at the trailhead there's several sedans parked... I'm probably a bad judge at this, is what I'm saying.

Arriving at the upper / newer trailhead on Friday morning, there were no sedans, however, just one other SUV. The road to the lower / original trailhead looked to be open again (confirmed later by a passing hiker) but I decided to start from here anyway, since I'd never experienced this section of trail. Although you stay far above Siouxon Creek, the path is in great shape and quite lovely, winding down through lush, fern-draped forest and over gentle side creeks.

You'd almost forget there was a wildfire until you approach the junction with the old TH - here, the burn appears total and the difference is stark. It's hard not to feel bummed out. But the more you work down towards the water, the more patchwork the fire damage becomes until soon enough there are huge pockets of green that seem virtually untouched by the blaze. It's not what it was - how could it be? - but the trail's beauty is intact for the most part, and Siouxon Creek is still its usual sparkling & untroubled self.

As others have mentioned, the trail is in fine shape to the old Chinook Creek junction. There's a log where the bridge was, but it looked to be more daredevil bait than anything practical (not well-anchored on the near side, roots to get around, etc). There's a place to ford just downstream, but the creek's still deep & swift enough to where I'm guessing many will prefer waiting on the bridge being rebuilt *fingers crossed* A path also forges down to the old Wildcat Trail ford. Note that a sign at the trailhead states all the official side trails are unmaintained & in "unknown" status (codeword for "bad") & that still appears to be the case soon after venturing up any of them, from what I could tell.

I'd spotted several enticing camp spots along the way, only one of which was obviously signed as closed: right off the trail partway between Horseshoe Creek and Siouxon Falls. But my shakily hopeful goal was one of the quieter campsites I'd heard of on the less-frequented stretch of trail farther upstream. This upper portion of Siouxon Creek is actually open all the way to the upper-most TH off Forest Road 58. However it's as narrow & scruffy as you might expect, with frequent blowdown and brush, which was maybe partly true even prior to Big Hollow. That the path is discernable at all and passable with "reasonable" effort (your mileage may vary) seems miracle enough. Finding an intact campsite here proved impossible, but taking in Middle & Upper Siouxon Falls along the way was plenty rewarding.

Instead I backtracked to the closest hospitable camp wayyy back at a flat near-ish the Wildcat Trail ford, making for a long day. A few obvious boot paths led through the brush to some choice-looking spots, complete with sittin' stumps, fire rings, and easy creek access. Roomy enough for several tents even. An amazing place to have all to myself! ... or so I thought. The mosquitos that descended at dusk were hardly a bother, lazily buzzing like they just dragged their selves out of bed for the evening commute, lulling me to sleep.

Until I was startled awake to a scrabbling sound near my head... something with little claws. Lying in a daze, hoping my (very dignified) reaction of involuntarily flailing scared the intruder away, I realized that the whatever-it-was was still nearby, making tiny nibbling sounds before darting off. After some minutes I'd hear them again, but just barely, to where I wasn't sure if it was my imagination or not. I made a commotion again - why not, at this point, but every time the scrounging sounds returned. So if it wasn't scared of my racket, it must be habituated to people? Didn't seem good. After finally drifting back to sleep, my fear was suddenly confirmed when I awoke to a shadow directly above me of a long-tailed, furry creature doing parkour moves between the top of my tent and the rain fly. Mice! Ugh. After no further sleep, I got up at first light to survey the damage... they'd nibbled at my trekking pole grips & scattered some things. Could've been worse. But no way was I staying there another night, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else either!

The next morning on the way back I passed campers dozing uneventfully, I assume, in hammocks at the site above lower Siouxon Falls. Other more neutral- to positive-wildlife experiences included a bald eagle, squirrels, slugs, endless birdsong, & wildflowers galore (Bleeding Heart fans, eat your heart out). Be ready for spittlebugs and many spiderwebs. Saturday morning featured plenty more hikers on their way in: a few from the lower TH but mostly from the farther one, surprisingly. All in all, aside from those pesky mice *shakes fist*, a great time out.