Adams Creek Meadows — Wednesday, Jul. 23, 2003

South Cascades > Mount Adams Area

This is a beautiful destination to the northern flank of Mt. Adam's. It's a long drive from Tacoma (3 hours) so it was a very long day but well worth the time and effort. Take Rd. 23 south from Randle for 32 miles, turn onto Rd. 2329 and in a few miles enter the Killen Creek trailhead - trail #113. Good directions are given in the 100 Hikes in the South Cascades & Olympics book and the roads and trailhead are well marked. Suggested maps in the hiking books are Green Trails Blue Lake and Mt. Adams West. Forget those maps and make it a lot easier and more clear by using Mt. Adams 367S. The trail climbs through nice woods for a couple of miles and then the terrain opens up to high mountain meadows. At 3 miles you reach the junction with the PCT. At this junction, continue straight on the trail that is now High Camp #10. This trail continues for 1 more mile before topping out into the meadow at treeline and the base of the mountain. At the end of the trail there is a clearly designed camp area free of rocks and other debris and sheltered by the small amount of stunted tree growth you will find in this meadow. At this point, we carefully went off-trail to find comfortable lunch spots. The face of the mountain will fill your eyes and is spectacular. Look north and you will see Mt. Rainier. Look southwest and there is Mt. St. Helens. Look around the meadow and see glacial streams (ice cold) and flowers beginning to bloom. We were bothered by flies all the way up the trail and had to double and triple-dose with bug juice. Thankfully, there was plenty of wind at the top and we were free to relax, eat, photograph and explore without being harassed. Although this is an 8 mile round trip hike, beware that it is either all up or all down........very little level walking. Additionally, the last half mile or so is a very steep scramble up a loose rock trail that is well marked with cairns. As for the wildflowers, the beargrass was in bloom for the first mile. The lupine and paintbrush was in bloom for the 2nd mile. Heather, more lupine and paintbrush is coming on at mile 3 and 4. Should be pretty colorful in another week or two. Bring your trekking poles, sunscreen and bug spray for this one. Plan a long day of it, unless you happen to live near Randle. Take the time if you have it for this beautiful hike.