Trip Report
Northern Loop, Berkeley Park, Sourdough Ridge, Huckleberry Creek & Grand Park via Lake Eleanor — Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
Our cheerful group of five met up at 5:30 a.m. in Federal Way. This was my first Hike-a-Thon hike of 2015, and I was fortunate to join two adventuresome couples for this 20+-mile trip. We dropped a car at the Huckleberry Creek trailhead on FS 73, then continued up to the Eleanor Creek "back-door" trailhead. Boots on trail about 7:15.
Lake Eleanor was bug-free and glowing in the morning sun. We had Grand Park all to ourselves except for a backcountry camper who hadn't tucked their bright yellow tent into the woods quite far enough. We took a short detour on the Northern Loop Trail to enjoy the views high above Winthrop Creek. Soon after Berkeley Park we began to encounter the crowds. Several "Hellos!" later we reached the junction with the Huckleberry Creek trail and made the short climb above Sourdough Ridge to linger long over lunch and fresh fruit. It was all downhill from there! There's a massive cirque about a mile in that's well worth a side trip. Forest Lake Camp was buggy, and we imagined it's an easy permit to get for the single campsite. Still, there's a bear pole, toilet and nearby water source.
All the trails are in good shape and obstacle-free. Sightings on the Huckleberry Creek trail included a deflated mylar balloon and several wads of used toilet paper not even a foot off the trail. Please remember to Leave No Trace!
Our leader cut two of us loose just before the patrol cabin to retrieve the car from our starting point at Eleanor Creek. We were about ten hours on-trail, including the leisurely lunch. Burgers and beers at HopJack's in Bonney Lake made a perfect end to a long day.
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