Sulphur Mountain, Milk Creek, Downey Creek, Sulphur Creek & Suiattle River Trail — Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

I would like to add important updated information to the previous report by MtnMike of Nov. 9, 2003. The bridge where the Suiattle River Road, FS Road #26, crosses Downey Creek is no longer passable for hikers. If you plan to hike or ski or snowshoe in this area, you will have to ford Downey Creek. There is no constructed ford at this location, and any crossing will be dependent on water flow, and fluctuations of the natural river condition. It will probably be a wet ford, and sometimes very dificult. My recent discusion with the Forest Service in Darrington suggests that access plans are still being evaluated. I recomend calling Darrington Ranger District, 360-436-1155 for further updates. The forest service may be posting a new photo that shows the present condition, which is quite different from the photo that Mike had shown.