White Chuck Bench — Friday, Mar. 25, 2011

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

To reach the TH drive the Mountain Loop HWY 9 miles south from Darrington and turn left on FR 22 at the sign for the White Chuck Boat Launch. Cross the Sauk River and continue up the road about .8 miles to the TH sign on the right. There are MANY trees across the trail, but all are easily stepped over or gone around. The second growth forest has beautiful cedars, Douglas firs, and hemlock with an understory of various mosses and oregon grape. The trail is mostly flat descending gradually to a bridge over Black Oak Creek surrounded by a grove of alder trees. Shortly after crossing the bridge the trail is harder to follow and finally disappears. We followed the shoreline of the river until we saw the washed out White Chuck Road across the river. Here there were many coltsfoot beginning to bloom. Our GPS told us we had hiked 1.8 miles. This is a very pleasant and easy low elevation hike even in a light rain which accompanied us on our walk!