CCC Road: Upper Trailhead — Wednesday, Jun. 11, 2025

I've been wanting to try this hike for a while and today was the day.  I was inspired by Pika Seeker's report from a couple of days ago and took a detour from the main trail almost right away to find the viewpoint beyond the Nordrum Lookout. The "Lookout" itself has no views and there are no intermediate views along the way.  Approximately 1.6 miles and 1,450 feet elevation gain after leaving the main CCC trail, I was rewarded with a beautiful view overlooking the Taylor River valley (and a crazy steep dropoff just below the viewpoint - be careful!) Certainly not a quick or easy detour but it was worth it and I don't think I've ever seen so much Pacific coralroot along one trail before.

Back down on the main trail I savored the minimal elevation gain over the the rest of the hike.  The CCC trail is shady, lush, lined with ferns, and the salmonberries were ripe and abundant!  There are only partial views the rest of the way until the very end of the trail (at which point you are less than .25 miles from the main Middle Fork road).  However, I enjoyed the wildflower hunting and came across some Pinesap, Red Columbine, Goat's Beard, Queen's Cup, Little Pipsissewa, Twinflowers, Pacific Ninebark, Bunchberry and few others.  I did not see anyone else during my entire hike.

After the hike I stopped by the  Middle Fork Gateway Bridge to check out the river and then wandered down for a snack at one of the picnic tables with a gorgeous view of the river and Garfield Mountain!

10 miles, 4 hours and 30 mins, 2,300 feet of elevation gain