Looking for a high country (pretty leaves), low elevation-gain hike I picked this one with the caveat that we would turn around at the Box Canyon Creek crossing, so this report is for that section only. Normally the Gold Creek Valley trail would be the prime choice, but apparently that's closed now which is very frustrating - as it can be done without the Gold Creek Pond section which is getting a 3-10 year make over. The forest road to the trail head is in good shape, just a few end of season potholes and a little washboarding. There is a single (enormous) stay right intersection soon after you pass the turn to Kachess Campground not mentioned in the directions. If you stay left you head up FR 4948. Plenty of parking and the outhouses decent but unstocked. The road in has some lovely fall color.
Temps were below freezing when we arrived, which meant some frozen sections of trail and icy logs on the creek crossings. Most of the crossings aren't too challenging, but I was thinking my winter boots would have been a better choice as insurance against a wet foot crossing as I disdained the slick logs on offer. The trail does climb quite sharpy in the beginning which was not unwelcome as a warm up. The second half to the main creek crossing (right below the head wall), is pretty mellow. Views were peek a boo with just a couple of decent vistas up to Hibox mountain. On the return we scooped out the boot trail to Hibox, it's on Gaia and Caltopo, not on our Green trails map, but we were soon climbing over dead fall so didn't go up very far. There was no snow on the trail, forest road, or in the parking lot, further up there was snowball size patches on the sides.
Temps slowly rose as we made our way back down and we stopped in a lovely sunny patch on some rocks near the creek about two thirds of the way back to the parking lot for lunch. As we headed back the last section it was like hiking back into fall and we were quite warm by the time we got back to the car. There is still plenty of fall color and quite a few folks out enjoying it. I would not want to tackle the rooty climb up to the lake when below freezing, but if you get a warmer sunny day, or just a later start then for sure that's still a good option.
Total mileage came in around six with a gain of around 600 feet. Other options for this type of hike would be Cooper River, or even Hyas Lake but those take quite a bit more getting to from the west side. Get it while you can.
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