Union Creek — Saturday, Jun. 22, 2002

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

The drive from my earlier hike in the day down by Silver Falls in eastern MRNP to Union Creek was a great visual lesson in the mountains rainshadow effect, moderating temperatures, and close inspection of the remaining snowpack. There is ample snow still under the trees in all cool valleys and gorges down to 3000' in the Deer Creek area on upward to Cayuse Pass. From Cayuse Pass southern slopes are melting out fast but any low valley or north slope will be snowed in for at good month yet. The north side of Naches Peak at Chinook Pass is buried deep still under more than six feet of snow and the bathrooms at the Chinook Pass PCT parking lot are now only starting to be exposed, with the back side of the structure completely buried still. I headed 9.3 miles east of Chinook Pass to the Union Creek Trail. Here snow was not in sight except for the highest northern slopes of American Ridge (note: American Ridge looks to be a great hike now while the crest is buried!). After my early start of hiking, I was still at the trailhead by 9:30am even after having already hiked four miles in MRNP by Silver Falls. Even still, I was amazed to find not a sole at the trailhead! I quickly hiked the 1/4 mile to the crossing of Union Creek and the waterfalls as the cloud cover (i.e. good waterfall photography light) was quickly breaking apart on this dry side of the crest. The bridge over Union Creek was a good laugh with water waves splashing up onto the bridge decking! The creek is running so high and fast that it is running right up against the bridge...luckily it is still in place. I personally liked the first spur left trail down to a viewpoint of the falls. I enjoyed the effect of having both the lower falls and the biggest falls in one view, with the upper falls towering over the lower one. I got a good soaking at the second spur trail sighting of the large upper falls as the water coming over it now is amazing! At this moment the sun came out and it simply cleared off and was sunny the rest of the day. Cool breezes, bright sun, and a lovely forest to hike through. Perfect!! I continued on the two miles to the North Fork Union Creek area, passing calypso orchids, trillium, yellow violets, and oceans of vanilla-leaf. Lupines and larkspur put in a dash of purple/blue color while Indian paintbrush brighten up the reds. The trail is steep for 1/3 mile past the falls and then becomes a lovely forest hike with gentle ups and downs as you hike along around 4000' elevation. The crossing of North Fork Union Creek is spectacular as you cross on a log with some decking on it, a wire to hold if you want (wire is WAY too low for someone my height to take advantage of), all the while seeing the creek pass under you just prior to it falling off into a deep gorge to your left! Be certain to cross the creek and take the small spur trail to the right about 100 yards to view the upper waterfall -- it was equally spectacular and soaking with the volume of flow in North Fork Union Creek! I ate some here, then hiked on up the trail another 1.5 miles or so. No snow in sight, and the ridges around me appeared to be bare as well. Even the south facing slopes up by the PCT were almost bare. With Union Creek trail sticking to the north side of the creek well up into the valley, I'd bet this is snowfree most of the way to the PCT. I turned back and enjoyed the 3.5 miles back to the trailhead to complete a good leg stretching day on the trail(s). Blowdown is scattered across the trail, maybe 15-20 total, but none that was a real problem. Hiking back I enjoyed a large flock of Evening Grosbeaks, a pair of grouse, and two chipmunks racing in circles up and down a tree over and over again. I'll surely hike this trail again...it was special, and I never saw anyone until I was almost back to the falls again after noon.