I accessed the Magnet Creek Trail #1206 from the 4300' level on Rd 7204 (Ruby Ck) north of Blewett Pass. The trail follows the crest of the ridge and looks to get some motorcycle use as well as light hiker traffic. 

The road up is bumpy with some ruts and rocks in places but high clearance is not needed. 

I walked north about 1.2 miles to where the trail takes a dive down to Highway 97 and continued to Point 4485 on a motorcycle track which goes all the way to the top. Nice views of the Teanaway area under threatening skies. 

After this hike I drove back down to 97 and headed south to Five Mile Rd where I took another short hike south out to Point 4970 on the northern access for Tronsen Ridge.

Both of these hikes are on Trail #1206 and can be connected with a bit of road walking. Five Mile Rd is rough and has some encroaching brush, but passable. Some clearance and 4-wheel drive is needed to get to the top. 

In search of autumn larch splendor, we ventured out to the Tronsen Ridge trail starting from the SOUTH trailhead. Several notable things to report:

1) The 10+ miles of dirt road took an hour to negotiate, with the last mile being very rough ..... OK with an Outback, but one mini-van scraped bottom or bumpers several times.

2) The WTA hike description is misleading. "You'll find yourself bound in by walls of larches" is no longer true as most of the larches on the ridge have met their demise in wildfires over the past few years!  I don't know when the last fires were in this area, but new regrowth appears to be just a few years old.  I suspect the hike description was written before the most recent burn. The scattered larches still surviving were just beginning to turn color.

3) The trail, while very dusty, was in decent shape. Do note that from the south TH, this is a down-going-in and up-going-out hike and while the noted elevation gain is modest, there are numerous ups & downs, some with quite steep inclines.

4) I suspect  this would be a wonderful early season wildflower hike as we noted remains of numerous species.

5) Views from several places along the way, as well as at a great viewpoint about 3/4 of the way in, were lovely..... Rainier, the Stuart Range, etc. 

6) Smoke conditions on the 18th were good on this hike.... clear to the east but densely smoky to the west and north. 

We were on the quest for the golden larches. A few larches had changed but I imagine it will be glorious next week. Smoke was not bad but looking north wall of smoke. View would of been incredible.

To get to the trailhead parking lot as soon as you cross a the wee creek take a left. Don’t go up the hill. The parking lot is amongst trees not really a lot more of a suggestion.

Lovely day on Tronsen Ridge!  We went hoping for larch colors, and found a few starting to turn, but mostly its still too early.  So keep trying as mid-October turns into late October. Lovely fireweed seeds and fluff!  Smoke was not bad at all.

We took the north road, and found it a bit sporty.  Quite manageable for the Outback, but had to stop a couple of times to scout the route.  My hiking companion reported closing their eyes a time or two.  So not for the low clearance or faint of heart. Brush did "caress" the side of the car and we have a few new paint scratches.  But those are just beauty marks!

Was in the area and hoping to catch some larches with my husband. Unfortunately it’s a little early and I would say they need at least another week. Only found a few here and there that were light green…no yellow around. 

We took the north road in our small SUV and really only ran into one dicey spot. Only saw 2 other cars and connected with them while they were coming up/we were going down in spaces on the road where passing was easy. The road is a little overgrown so beware of bushes catching the side of your car.

Still a great day to be out with fantastic views and no others on the trail!