Squire Creek Pass via Eight-mile Trail — Sunday, Jul. 7, 2013

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Ike and Phlemy accompanied me today on this rugged, but very scenic trail. I'd hiked into the pass via the Darrington trail many years ago, but hadn't hiked it since the road washed out. I'd heard about the Eight Mile trail in the past, but that it was horrendous. Not so much. Probably the worst thing about it is the Clear Creek Road. I remember being on it as a kid, but it has certainly deteriorated. It's very narrow and bumpy with a couple of wash out areas that have been repaired, but minimally. The trail is no walk in the park either, but just fine by my standards. It begins on a long abandoned logging road that is essentially a boulder/rock walkway with an easy grade. Once you leave this you begin up a trail that seems to have had little to no maintenance for a long time. It's not brushy and there are only a couple of logs to clamber over, but there are a few muddy spots and it's steep with roots and rocks. Still, there's lots of soft forest duff to walk on the some really enormous yellow cedars to gawk at. Approximately 2 miles in and 1/2 mile before the pass you leave the forest behind and enter very fine park land with a series of spectacular waterslide type falls emptying into deep pools. This might have been my favorite part of the hike, but there was so much more! Wildflowers start here with Canadian dogwood, Queen's cup, heather, columbine, and many others. The pass was as I remembered, great views to White Horse, Three Fingers and Liberty Peak with stunning rock walls lining the valley below. The pass itself is covered with rock slabs and a variety of cairns and intriguing rock arrangements. It looks like there might have been a Druid or two doing some business here. Very mysterious and this was also to be found here on my last trip at least 12 years ago. Hmmmmm...... After a quick lunch, Phlemy and I walked up to the ridgeline south of the pass for a view to the other side of Helena and assorted peaks. There's still some snow here, but consolidated and melting fast. This is an outstanding trip that not many people do, and it deserves a lot more attention than it's been getting. The trail is short, but it doesn't feel like it gaining 2400' in 2.5 miles, although you could probably add another 1/4 mile for the ridgetop viewpoint. Another great day and a very worthy destination. Now, if Darrington could just get a decent place to have an ice cream cone....