To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the North Cross (North Cascades) Highway opening, I explored the trail used before it was possible to drive to Washington Pass from the east. The 100 Hikes in the North Cascades Third Edition by Ira Spring and Harvey Manning lists it as one of the Forgotten Trails in the Methow Valley Ranger District and it is shown on my Topo Maps+ app. I parked at the pull off used by Silver Star climbers and descended the rough trail down the rockslide to the Early Winters Creek valley. There is a climbing register on the valley floor, and a fairly well established trail as far as the Silver Star approach trail.
My goal was to hike to Washington Pass on the original trail. Route finding is tricky, and difficult at times, but kind souls have placed small blazes and occasional blue and yellow surveyor tape to mark the way. The trail is obvious in some sections and invisible (to me) in others. There are lots of downed trees to cross, and small streams to cross. I made it to just beyond Willow Creek (1 1/2 miles) before turning around, about 1/4 of the way to Washington Pass.
The reward is complete solitude, a beautiful deep forest, views of granite walls, and a sense of what this area was like for the tens of thousands of years before the highway. Now that I know it can be done, I'll start earlier and plan a one-way trip to Washington Pass, perhaps stashing a bike for the descent to my car.
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