Squire Creek Pass via Eight-mile Trail — Thursday, May. 28, 2015

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

This was one of those days where everything was perfect. It was sunny and warm. There were no biting insects and scenery was beautiful. We didn't see a single person all day. This was my first time on this trail. I've shied away from this route in the past because it has been described as "steep, muddy and rooty". Well that is an accurate description but the pay off is huge. Between big trees, granite slopes, interesting tarns, meadows and beautiful mountain views there is constant entertainment along the way. The mileages in the trail guide are incorrect. Road 2060 is 2.4 mi from Darrington. It is across from the Clear Creek Campground. Turn right onto 2060. The dirt road has some potholes but is not bad. I think that most 2wd passenger cars could make it. At 5.4 mi there is an unmarked fork. Take the right fork (2065). At 6.0 mi from the hwy is the marked trailhead. The first 0.6 mi of trail is on an old eroded, rocky logging road through uninteresting spindly 2nd growth brown forest. At 0.6 mi you enter the Boulder Creek wilderness and immediately come upon a huge half dead Western Red Cedar (some have incorrectly identified this tree as an Alaska Yellow Cedar). It measured 41 feet, 10 inches in circumference! That is over 13 feet in diameter! At about 0.8 mi you cross just below a big granite slope. At this point the pitch steepens as you reenter old growth forest made up of a combination of Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar and Mountain Hemlock. In 1 mile you gain 1300 feet on a rooty and sometimes muddy path. At 2 mi the pitch eases and you start traversing huckleberry and heather meadows interrupted by interesting exposed granite creek beds. There are a few Western Bog Laurel in bloom now (thank you Muledeer for the ID). At 2.5 miles you reach Squire Creek Pass with great views from wide flat granite slabs. It looks like it would be a great place to camp. From here I highly recommend heading south on a well worn trail with cairns that takes you up meadowy and sparsely forest slopes to nicer views of the surrounding peaks. RT to pass: 4.9 mi and 2200 ft. With side trip to south 5.7+ mi and 2600 feet.

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2sGIDMgpw-TMGFCTG9lOGg0TDg/view?usp=sharing