Nice trail with a big price when arriving at the pass. Beautiful 360 degrees view. Tough and narrow at times with steep inclines, roots and fallen trees, with just enough soft terrain in between for brief reprieves. The last part of the trail is a low incline alpine meadow with occasional crossing of huge granite slabs. This trail is very challenging. Lots of big muddy sections.

This was one of those days where everything was perfect. It was sunny and warm. There were no biting insects and scenery was beautiful. We didn't see a single person all day. This was my first time on this trail. I've shied away from this route in the past because it has been described as "steep, muddy and rooty". Well that is an accurate description but the pay off is huge. Between big trees, granite slopes, interesting tarns, meadows and beautiful mountain views there is constant entertainment along the way. The mileages in the trail guide are incorrect. Road 2060 is 2.4 mi from Darrington. It is across from the Clear Creek Campground. Turn right onto 2060. The dirt road has some potholes but is not bad. I think that most 2wd passenger cars could make it. At 5.4 mi there is an unmarked fork. Take the right fork (2065). At 6.0 mi from the hwy is the marked trailhead. The first 0.6 mi of trail is on an old eroded, rocky logging road through uninteresting spindly 2nd growth brown forest. At 0.6 mi you enter the Boulder Creek wilderness and immediately come upon a huge half dead Western Red Cedar (some have incorrectly identified this tree as an Alaska Yellow Cedar). It measured 41 feet, 10 inches in circumference! That is over 13 feet in diameter! At about 0.8 mi you cross just below a big granite slope. At this point the pitch steepens as you reenter old growth forest made up of a combination of Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar and Mountain Hemlock. In 1 mile you gain 1300 feet on a rooty and sometimes muddy path. At 2 mi the pitch eases and you start traversing huckleberry and heather meadows interrupted by interesting exposed granite creek beds. There are a few Western Bog Laurel in bloom now (thank you Muledeer for the ID). At 2.5 miles you reach Squire Creek Pass with great views from wide flat granite slabs. It looks like it would be a great place to camp. From here I highly recommend heading south on a well worn trail with cairns that takes you up meadowy and sparsely forest slopes to nicer views of the surrounding peaks. RT to pass: 4.9 mi and 2200 ft. With side trip to south 5.7+ mi and 2600 feet.

Please Read: The WTA directions indicate to follow FR 2060 for 8 miles, this is incorrect. I clocked it at 5.3 miles from the highway. I missed the trailhead and unknowingly continued on, at about 6 miles the road turns very rough and 4 wheel drive is highly recommended, if not necessary. I popped my GMC Canyon into 4 high, then quickly, as conditions worsened, put it into 4 low. I got to the 7th mile before I considered it too risky to proceed - it looked more like a hiking trail up a creek than a road. I hiked approximately a mile in, then when I looked back I realized I lost the trail, and deciding I did not want to get lost in the woods, decided to call it a day. On the way back is when I found the TH - there is a sign and register (right hand side). Needless to say, I did complete the "actual" hike. It was rough - steep, overgrown, rocky, rooty, muddy, numerous blowdowns. In some parts, I would sink in the mud almost up to my knee (I am 6'5''). The overgrown brush made sure my pants and shoes stayed wet, it was foggy but not raining. The roots made it very slippery coming down, hiking poles saved my butt numerous times and I highly recommend using them. At one part, I slipped so far down it felt like a glissade, only fell once, but quickly recovered due to my poles. The positives? It was a great workout. The low angle rock slabs/waterfalls were very unique. Lots of tarns toward the top. Beautiful alpine meadows. Just beyond is the large expanse of granite with cairns guiding the way - also unique and stunning. Some flowers are blooming: columbine, salmonberry, bleeding heart, false Solomon's seal, false lily of the valley, and a very abundant and beautiful western bog laurel in the alpine meadows, as well as a few others. No views of the mountains on this day, but I don't let the weather hinder my plans. I will be back for sure. Nothing like an un-maintained trail to give you the sense of being in the middle of the mountains. Didn't see a soul, neither going up, nor going down. I will be back on a clearer day for sure.

Started up at 930 am, the first 2 miles are a challenge, down trees, muddy, Rooty and steep. took me 2 hours to gain a mile and a half and it was foggy all day, no views on this day but this trail has some serious character, there were features here I've never seen. The trails towards the top are well marked with cairns ( little piles of rocks ) Thank you fellow hikers! This trail needs some serious work, regardless, ill be back on a sunny day to see the amazing views I keep hearing about. bring your hiking poles as it is pretty steep in places.

Got out to Eightmile Creek for a beautiful Sunday hike. Road in was generally good and is a fairly typical Mountain Loop road, some potholes and some rocky sections, but overall good shape. Echoing other trip reports, the trail is definitely a bit muddy, and has lots of steep, rooty sections and downed trees to scramble over and around. The trail is steep, but there are plenty of little diversions to keep you occupied while you hike - climbers on 3 o'clock rock, a couple of neat little tarns and stream crossings, and some nice views across the valley. Once the trail levels out though, this hike turns absolutely magical. Easy walking on granite slabs is punctuated with shallow stream crossings, all with incredible alpine views of Three Fingers and Whitehorse Mountain. This is one of my favorite new hikes for sure! The wife and I must have said "This is so cool!" at least a dozen times in the last half mile on this trail, and it totally deserved it.