Skookum Flats — Saturday, Oct. 27, 2001

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

I caught another nice day between storms. The last one left snow on the trees above 3,000 feet, so I decided to visit a lowland hike and just cruise along the White River. Skookum Flats Trail is popular with mountain bikers and the occasional hiker, no ATV's or horses are allowed. You can access the trail from the north end off Huckleberry Creek Road (FS 73) or on the south from Buck Creek Road (FS 7160). It's an upsy downsy route, a nice stroll next to a pretty river. About half way between Buck Creek Trail junction and Skookum Falls, there is a sunny gravel bar, a favorite lunch spot of mine. I wandered out by the river (which was rather low) and sunned awhile. Along the route there are occasional views of the Snoquera Palisades across the valley. The Skookum Falls are nice in the spring, but barely existant after such a dry summer. This is a nice route for children, if you watch for the occasional steep bank and bicycles. Also watch crossing some of the old trestles and bridges, they're slippery. There was a layer of ice in the parking lot at Camp Shepard and some folks were scraping off some pretty serious windshield ice, so it got pretty cold Saturday night. I wore lots of layers and did just fine, but the trail is mainly in heavy shade of mature trees, so bundle up, at least until spring comes again. Think snow! P.S. I also checked out a portion of the Skookum Flats trail south of FS 7160, which used to follow the river fairly closely. The White does tend to regularly chew away at its banks and the trail has been rerouted to pass near the old emergency air strip. A plane even landed on the strip when I was standing there looking at it! There is a kind of casual campground here (drive in)which seems popular with the trailer and camper crowd. A little too noisy for my tastes.