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North Cascades National Park - Bridge Creek 1 BCRT

Backcountry Response Team

Thu Jun 25, 2026 8:30 AM — Sun Jun 28, 2026 3:30 PM

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Region

North Cascades — North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

Crew Leader: Kesia Lee

Typical part of PCT between Bridge Creek TH and North Fork. Photo by CoraGG.

Overview

Join the WTA crew on this backcountry adventure along the Bridge Creek trail which doubles as a section of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) as it approaches Rainy Pass on Highway 20!

About the Area

The Bridge Creek Trail is one segment of the 2,650 mile (4240 km) Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which enters North Cascades National Park at High Bridge (via the Agnes Creek Trail) then follows the Old Wagon Trail to the Bridge Creek Trail. All told, 18 miles (29 km) of the PCT pass through the park. In the fall, when the PCT hikers are passing through en masse, the trail is at its busiest, but it is a popular thoroughfare for much of the year regardless. This trail provides the shortest and least difficult hiker or stock approach to Stehekin, and it connects to many other backpacker trails.

-North Cascades National Park

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference!

Project Description

This busy trail needs a variety of maintenance to keep it in great shape and minimize impacts on the surrounding area. Activities may include pruning back overgrown vegetation, bridge and water crossing repairs and digging new paths for water to flow off the trail. We may also restore the tread. This involves digging the trail surface to the proper width and slope as well as removing organic material, protruding rocks and roots.

Camping and Hiking Information

  • Type: Backcountry basecamp
  • Location: Fireweed Camp
  • Weather: Be prepared for variable conditions including heat, cold, wind and rain
  • There is a pit toilet/composter toilet and bear box for food storage at this camp.
  • Initial hike to camp: 3.9 miles with 920’ loss at a moderate pace while carrying your backpack fully loaded with all provisions including camping gear and food, plus tools (provided by WTA)
  •  Expected daily hike: Up to 5 miles roundtrip with up to 1500’ gain at a moderate pace while carrying your daypack plus tools

Schedule

  • Day 1: Meet the crew rain or shine, then hike in, begin work on the project and set up camp
  • Day 2+: Make breakfast and pack a lunch before heading out on trail with the crew by 8:00 AM. Work at your own pace, take plenty of breaks and enjoy lunch on the trail. Arrive back in camp by 4:00 or 5:00 PM for a relaxing evening. Prepare your own dinner and swap stories with the crew.
  • Final Day: Break down camp, finish trail project, hike out and say goodbye to the crew at the trailhead

For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.

Planning Information

Get ready for a challenging backcountry adventure!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

  • A great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need for the project
  • Backpacking gear and food for multiple nights on the trail
  • Good physical condition to hike with a fully-loaded backpack and be physically active for about 8-9 hours daily on uneven terrain 
  • Backpacking experience including ability to run your own camp following Leave No Trace principles
  • Day work party experience recommended
  • Flexibility to adapt to changes due to unpredictable weather or land manager requests
  • Minimum age: 18

What to Bring

Required:

  • Sturdy closed-toe shoes
  • Work gloves
  • Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)
  • Long pants

Recommended:

  • Sturdy work or hiking boots
  • Long sleeved shirt

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.

In addition to items listed above, bring the following backpacking gear:

  • WTA hard hat
  • Work gloves
  • Backpack to carry all of your gear
  • Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad
  • Cooking gear and enough food (plus a little extra) for the entire trip
  • At least two 1-liter water bottles and a way to purify your water
  • Rain jacket and rain pants
  • Extra warm clothing
  • Camp clothing such as shorts, shirt and sandals
  • Sun and bug protection
  • Headlamp and extra batteries
  • Personal items such as medication, hand sanitizer and toiletries
  • ​First aid kit
  • A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own.

More Information

From the Hiking Guide

See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.

A My Backpack account is required. You will be asked to register or log in before you can join.

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Partners

Directions

From I-5: Take exit 232 for Cook Rd toward Sedro-Woolley, take a right onto Cook Rd and continue for 4.2 miles. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit and stay on Cook Rd, at the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Borseth St. At the next traffic circle, continue straight onto State Rte 20 E/W Moore St, and then continue on State Route 20 for about 93 miles, to mile 159, just over one mile east of Rainy Pass. Take a left to access the parking lot located on the north side of the highway.

Note: Please follow the written directions above instead of using a GPS device. This will ensure that you get to the correct meeting location for this work party. The location of the pinpoint below is only approximate.

Getting to WTA work parties can involve travel on rough, unpaved roads in areas without cellular service and without street addresses that can be accurately used by navigation devices. Unless specifically noted otherwise, routes can generally be traveled by all types of vehicles. Volunteers with limited experience driving on unpaved mountain roads may want to allow extra time, beyond what is recommended in the directions above, to get to the meeting location.

Required Documentation

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