We went up to Mazama Park on the first day, and stayed there overnight. The next day we left our camp set up while we continued up to Park Butte, then came back, broke camp, and headed out. The distance is not super long nor is the elevation gain overwhelming, but there are sections of the Ridley Creek Trail that are high in what might be best described as "challenge level." Some fallen trees that are tricky to navigate around, some quite steep sections dropping down to stream beds and climbing back out again on loose and wet dirt. Perhaps that combined with the long drive in on a rough road is what keeps the traffic down on this route compared to coming up from Schriebers Meadow. Personally, I kind of like when a trail feels a little more wild, especially when a big part of why I'm out there is to take a break from everything going on in the human world. But be prepared - good boots and poles are a big help in places, and I wouldn't recommend this as a place to take your friend or family member who has never really hiked before.

Speaking of traffic, it was pretty quiet on the Ridley Creek Trail, especially Monday when we were heading out, but once we hit the Park Butte Trail it was very busy. We thought we would be early enough to beat the rush since we were starting from Mazama Park rather than the trailhead, but apparently a bunch of people were on the trail first thing. I can only imagine what it must have been like as the day wore on. We had left our masks in our car because we didn't think we'd need them, which was a mistake. Spent a lot of time figuring out how to get off the trail without trampling things.

In that regard, Mazama Park is a nice camping option is you don't want to be in the middle of the crowds. A little buggy, but we had it entirely to ourselves, and it has glorious views of Mount Baker. We got up in the middle of the night to look at the stars, and it was breathtaking. 

It has been a while since I’ve been up these trails. I started at the Ridley Creek TH and ran the road down to the Elbow Lake TH. There is a single log to cross that would be likely terrifying for most. I think most people sit on their butt and scoot across the log. Still waiting for the forest service to do the needed thing and put in a new bridge. Perhaps with the passing of the Great American Outdoors Act a new bridge will make it into the budget.This is a very dangerous crossing particularly when the water is raging. There has been some recent trail work along the elbow Lake Trail. One thing I want to note is that some of the work did not meet the typical standard of the WTA. There was a couple of places where some drainage work was completed and the soil was just dumped in a pile beside the trail rather than being dispersed. (SEE THE PHOTO BELOW)I understand that it is completed by volunteers and sometimes these sorts of things happen. The work was much appreciated still. The trail is in very good condition with just a few wet spots until you get rather close to the lakes. It was rather curious that some areas were very aggressively brushed while others that needed brushed were not. Perhaps it was all the crew had time for. Once past the lakes there are some very very Brushy areas all the way to the Junction for the bell Pass Trail. This area needs some work. I saw on a previous report that there is a bridge out on FR 12. However I encountered several people coming up the Elbow Lake trail from that side. Bell Pass is typically very overgrown. There were still sections that were overgrown but there was also some sections that had some recent work on the tread completed. Again not sure why the crew didn’t brush the trail while they were doing the tread work. Some of the brushing was again not up to typical WTA standards. The brush was just piled along the edge of the trail and not dispersed. This perhaps is nitpicky to some but I think it’s important to maintain a high standard when doing our trail work. It is worth noting that Bell Pass is frequented by horses and therefore there are more introduced weeds along the trail. There is a particular grass with spear like seed heads that get into your socks and are very pokey. So gators could really help make this section of trail more comfortable. Once arriving in the Mazama meadow there has been some needed work on the tread to slow down water running down the trail. Headed up the switchbacks toward the Park Butte Lookout. This is most often the place where people become quite numerous and the impact on the Heather and meadows is noticeable. I actually asked one group of young males to not tromp on the Heather and to please stay on the tread. They didn’t respond but I heard one guy ask another what I said, and he responded, “he just said something about staying off the plants.” There is such a need for more education and the presence of rangers in these high use areas. Areas such as this are being trampled to oblivion.  I made my way up the Park Butte Trail and the trail is in decent condition but it becomes braided near the top. There was a sign on the lookout that said “wet paint, closed till Monday.” But this didn’t stop the people and there was even a woman inside laying out her things for the evening. I asked her if she noticed the sign and she stated “a guy had told her it was fine.” The paint was still so tacky that when I touched it, it stuck to my hand. Painting the lookout over a weekend...maybe not the best plan. Ran back down the switchbacks toward Ridley Creek. The usually very wet meadow with standing pools of water is still wet but quickly drying. This is a spot that I’ve long thought needs attention for a trail project. I’m not sure what would be best but it would be a good thing to keep we runners and hikers out of the wetland. The trail descends in its rugged fashion through sections of very nice buffed trail and some more highly eroded.There are a few trees down across the trail that will require a crosscut saw most likely. There are some giant chunks of a dead fallen tree that have settled into the trail. It willtake a lot if people or a come along to move those giants. The foot log bridge across the Middle Fork is still intact. Gorgeous day out there! Bugs were not bad, but I was running so it could be different for hikers. 

This is a lovely way to get to Park Butte and avoid the crowds there (at least until the junction with Park Butte). Took Ridley creek to Mazama Park to Park Butte Lookout and back. Not much views until Mazama Park, but very beautiful after that!

Road/Trailhead: The dirt road into the trailhead was fairly potholed, reminded me of Canyon Creek road, and took about 15-20 minutes longer to get there than google maps predicted due to slowing down for potholed sections. A Subaru sedan and VW hatchback made it to the TH so must be passable for lower clearance. Trailhead was small and didn't have an outhouse. 4 other cars there when I arrived.

Trail Conditions: Ridley Creek Trail was in decent shape most of the way. Some muddy sections and some sections where the trail turned into a deep rut, but never had any issues following it. Also about a half dozen logs across the trail and a couple brushy sections but didn't feel like pants were necessary. Bell Pass trail was in great condition from Mazama Park to Cathedral Crag camps, and Park Butte trail was as well. Should note I planned to do a loop around Cathedral Crag via Baker Pass to get back to the Ridley Creek Trail but the Baker Pass trail (as shown on Gaia Maps)  was closed at the junction with the Park Butte Trail. The USFS map shows the trail breaking off from Park Butte trail about 1/4 mile further down compared to Gaia Maps so maybe that one is open. A couple hikers I talked to said they went to Baker Pass from the Mazama Park side.

Snow Conditions: No snow across trail the whole way.

Hiker Density: Saw about 5 other parties the whole time on Ridley Creek through Bell Pass Junction with Park Butte. As soon as I hit Park Butte trail there were too many other hikers to count.

 We did 18 miles up Ridley Creek through Mazama Park, popped up to Park Butte Lookout, back to Mazama Park to head down Bell Pass, and made our way back via Elbow Lake Trail. 

Disregard the previous the trip report. The bridge over Ridley Creek is 100% passable. The water flow has subsided and is a fairly easy crossing. 

Ridley Creek Trail is in excellent condition! We headed up around 9am and didn't see another soul. There were minimal snow fields to Mazama Park and we had no trouble sticking to the trail. They should be gone in a week or so. When we got to Mazama Park some friendly hikers had already claimed the cabin but we just wanted to check it out before continuing up to Park Butte. There is a newer toilet at Mazama Park with a great view of Park Butte if you're looking for a scenic bathroom break. 

This section of trail was also in great condition. Again a bit of snow but the trail reappeared often enough that I never pulled out my navigation to get us to the intersection with the Park Butte trail. 

The Park Butte trail, as one might expect, is where we started encountering LOTS of people coming and going from the lookout. It was almost entirely snow covered but the boot pack was easy to follow up to the lookout, where all the snow is melted. Way too many people were hanging around the lookout so we didn't linger long. 

Bell Pass Trail was pretty overgrown - it seems many people do not take this route. But it was beautiful! Lots of flowers, quite a few downed trees that we maneuvered around/over, and signs of bear presence (poop, prints, and scratch marks on a dead tree) but no bear sightings. 

Elbow Lakes trail was in similar condition from Bell Pass to the lakes - after the lakes it was a bit less overgrown. The river crossing on Elbow Lakes trail to get to the trailhead is a bit sketchy. There is a log laid across the water which we butt scooted over to get to the finish. One person was skillful enough to walk it. 

7/23/20 EDIT: I stand corrected. The bridge in the photo is over the river. However, there is nothing memorable about any other water crossings, so the actual Ridley Creek is safe to cross.

Huge heads up. 
me and a trail crew team headed out to work on the trail this morning,  it the bridge in the first tenth of a mile is washed out. At some point last night after I went and checked it out the bridge lost one of its logs. The creek is definitely way to dangerous, wide, and fast to cross anywhere. Do not attempt to cross.