Spider Meadow and Phelps Basin — Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East

First, the road. On the road to Phelps Creek (after the split to Trinity), the road is difficult. It's extremely dry and sandy/dusty, deeply rutted in parts that make it more like driving on a beach than a mountain road. It's passible without AWD/4WD, but it wouldn't be easy - that said, it wasn't easy even with 4WD. The trail itself is in great condition with plenty of water along the route. It's remarkably easy to get to Spider Meadow and Phelps Basin, as the trail is gently graded. We got a late start, so we didn't attempt to go up to Spider Gap, but Phelps Basin was beautiful itself. Great hike.