This is one of my favorite dayhike loops in the Salmo Priest Wilderness. I normally hike it counter-clockwise, but this time opted to hike clockwise. I worked with an excellent BCRT crew that logged out & spruced up the Shedroof Cutoff trail in July, and all of the crew's attention to tread and drainage was showing! A subsequent PNTA crew removed the difficult tree our crew had to leave behind. Another BCRT crew cleared the part of the Shedroof Divide trail between the Cutoff and Thunder Creek, and subsequent PNTA and BCHW crews completed the task so the trail is currently 100% free of downfall. There are a few brushy sections, but they are short and tend to have a lot of very ripe huckleberries that make it nice when it's slower going. I was doing this route a day ahead of the Jackson Creek BCRT with an ulterior motive to check on the campsite near the top of the Thunder Creek trail. In previous years I've needed to pack a lot of garbage out of this campsite, so I wanted to make sure it was in good condition before choosing it for the trailwork crew. I'm happy to report that there was no trash this time! The exit via Thunder Creek trail was lovely as far as the clear-cut. That trail is absolutely gorgeous; probably my favorite in the Salmo Priest although marred by the ugly clearcut for the last 2 miles (and 8 switchbacks!). That section seems as though it might never end, although the trees are finally getting tall enough to provide some afternoon shade. The loop is 15.25 miles with over 3400' gain, so it's a tough dayhike. It includes a couple viable camping options along the route so could easily be a nice overnight backpack trip as well.

We planned this as an epic day hike-- dropped a car at the south end, camped at the Salmo Pass TH, and got an early start right at dawn. The guidebook promised some of the best views in Eastern WA... and they were right!  The panoramic views totally made up for our tired feet. 

The wildflowers were out in abundance, though the huckleberry crop left a little to be desired. We didn't spot any critters, but we saw enough bear scat to keep us on our toes.

We packed enough water to last us the whole distance, but there were a few springs that had enough to filter: two about halfway around Thunder Mtn, one right after the Jackson Creek junction, and one near the camp between Helmer and Mankato. Then again, it had rained the past two days, so who knows how they'll be running after a dry spell?

There were quite a few blowdowns requiring some yoga-like agility around Shedroof Mountain, and the trail was really overgrown for a few miles along Thunder Mountain... though it's hard to get grumpy when you're bushwhacking through waist-high wildflowers.  

The views were especially amazing along Helmer Mountain; make sure you plan a snack stop along the ridge to take photos! (On the other hand, if you see weather rolling in, bust a move because you are exposed out there!)

Bugs were bad at the Salmo TH, but no issue anywhere else. We hardly saw anyone except two backpackers and a WTA trail crew. 

I began at Pass Creek Pass for a quick overnighter to the first good campsite with water about 4 miles in which was the site of a USFS cabin. The weather was unstable but predicted to  improve which turned out to be accurate. My goal was to visit some summits while hiking out the following morning. 

From camp in the morning I walked about 1/2 mile north on the divide toward Helmer Mountain which is a short hike up from the trail through a fairly recent burn. Views north on Shedroof are good as well as the Idaho Selkirks to the east. 

After returning to camp and packing up I sauntered up Mankato Mountain and walked the ridge west to the high point at 6700.'

The last summit near the trailhead is Round Top Mountain, 6466' with its lookout remains and great views over to Gypsy Peak and Sullivan Mtn Lookout. 

Someday I'd like to return and walk the entire ridge of over 20 miles. This is a good trail to find solitude and classic mountain goodness with several summits within a short walk of the trail. 

About a dozen trees are down along the 4.5-mile section I walked. It is in otherwise excellent condition. 

While driving from Priest Lake to Boundary Dam along FR-302 we stopped at Pass Creek Pass to stretch our legs and peep some amazing views on the Shedroof Divide trail. The road to the pass is in good condition – east of the pass is especially smooth, west has several potholes to watch for.

We parked at the pull off right at the pass and crossed the road to the trailhead. The first few steps up from the road are facing some erosion and the ground slides under your feet. After this short section, however, the trail is great. It climbs for the first mile or so, quickly revealing some amazing views. We loved the meadows and wildflowers and endless sea of blue mountains the whole way. The trail drops out of the meadow and back into the trees where we encountered several blowdowns and a few patches of stubborn snow. Nothing was impassable, though. We continued on out of the tree cover and to a lovely stretch with views on all sides. Here, an estimated 3.5 mi from the trailhead, we found a great log to perch on for a snack with nearly 360-degree views. We headed back the way we came. Round trip took about 3 hours, and we only saw one solo hiker and one group of four. It was hot and sunny and mostly exposed, so sunscreen and water is a must. We tied bells to our packs and carried bear spray but only saw butterflies and other insects. We will definitely plan to return with overnight packs to explore further!

This report covers the Selmo Divide trail from the trailhead at the end of Forest Road 2220 to the intersection with the Shedroof Divide trail which is about 3 miles south and then the section of the Shedroof Divide trail south  to intersection with the Hughes Creek trail and the Shedroof Cutoff trail which is about 3 miles.  I was a participant in a WTA Backcountry Response Team which spent four days working on the Shedroof Divide trail from the Selmo junction to the Hughes Creek junction.

The first mile or so of the Selmo Divide trail is a decommissioned road with a gentle grade.  There are periodic spectacular views into Canada and Idaho.  The trail then enters the forest and in about a mile emerges into a spectacular meadow on the west side of the ridge with views into Canada.  Eight of us camped comfortably at the junction with the Shedroof Divide trail.  There is a seasonal water source about .25 miles from camp on the Idaho side.  This trail is in good condition with no downed trees.

Less than a half mile south from the junction, the Shedroof Divide trail climbs a series of switchbacks.  About a half mile further, the trail skirts the west side of Shedroof Mountain.  There is a fairly short unmaintained trail to the top of Shedroof Mountain which had a lookout tower on it some years ago.  The trail then does a gradual descent of 1,000 feet over the next two miles to the Hughes Creek junction. There are some magnificent views into the Priest Lake area and the Selkirk Mountains just after the summit.  We cleared all downed trees except one that can be easily navigated.  We also did major brushing on a portion of the trail.  We guessed that it had been a decade since any brushing had been done.  There are a few sections that are still quite brushy but the trail is easy to find and navigate. 

There are huckleberry bushes galore along most of the trail.  It should be quite the treat in a few more weeks.  Many types of wildflowers were in bloom and there were many butterflies which proved to be quite a distraction.