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Carlton Creek - Logout

Backcountry Response Team

Tue Jun 16, 2026 8:30 AM — Sun Jun 21, 2026 3:30 PM

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Region

South Cascades

Features: Earn Northwest Forest Pass

Crew Leader: Gary Zink

The tread of Carlton Creek from a 2022 trip report. Photo by trip reporter ejain.

Overview

Join forces with Back Country Horsemen of Washington for this special pack-supported trip to log out the Carlton Creek trail. Without our collective efforts this trail is in danger of being lost!

About the Area

Carlton Creek is a trail that's so overgrown it's not even fleshed out in our hiking guide. But part of the William O. Douglas Wilderness, it's near a principal Native American travel route across the Cascades.


It is near the prehistoric Yakama Cowlitz Trail, which connected people from the Cowlitz Valley with people from the Yakima River drainage. Now part of the larger trail network in the area, hikers, backpackers and horseback riders share the historic route.

What to Expect

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

Project Description

You will meet at the Soda Springs trailhead where there is more room to park, but then be shuttled to an unofficial access to an abandoned road that will take you into the William O Douglas Wilderness.


Once there, you'll spend your days logging out the Wilderness trails with crosscut saws. Back Country Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) will pack in tools and equipment for the crew so you can enjoy the hike in with a lighter pack.

Camping and Hiking Information

  • Backcountry basecamp
  • Camp for the first 1 or 2 nights will be approx. 3.5 miles along the Carlton Creek Trail. Depending on how the work goes the crew may bump camp further in.
  • Weather: Be prepared for variable conditions including heat, cold, wind and rain.
  • Initial hike to camp: 3.5 miles with 2,700 feet of gain at a moderate pace while carrying a light daypack. Pack stock will carry our WTA-provided tools and can carry some camping equipment and food.
  •  Expected daily hike: Up to 4.0 miles roundtrip with up to 500 feet of 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 work or hiking boots. Review our Logout Boot Guide for more details.
  • Work gloves
  • Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, safety glasses, or mesh “bug eyes”. Glasses should have wrapping side shields. ANSI Z87.1+)
  • Long pants
  • Long sleeve shirt

Required for Chainsaw Use

  • Sturdy work or hiking boots that are “cut resistant” or leather, laced boots that provide ankle support and nonskid soles.

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. For chainsaw use, volunteers will be provided with additional PPE (eye protection, ear pro, gloves, and chainsaw chaps). For safety reasons, volunteers who do not have required gear 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.

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Partners

Directions

The Soda Springs campground and trailhead is located on the southwest side of the William 'O Douglas wilderness near White Pass. If you're coming up from the Vancouver area, head north on I-5 and then east on Hwy 12 to go through Randle and on to Packwood. From Packwood, travel east on Highway 12 for about 9 miles. Turn left on Forest Road 45 and follow for 0.3 miles then continue on Forest Road 4510. Follow Forest Road 4510 for about 4.2 miles then stay right on the spur road towards Soda Springs trailhead for about 0.5 miles.


If you are coming down from the Seattle area, head to Enumclaw and follow WA-410 east to Cayuse Pass. Head south on WA-123 for 16.3 miles along the east side of Mount Rainier National Park. At the junction with Hwy 12, turn left towards White Pass. Go 1.3 miles and then turn left on Forest Road 45. In 0.3 miles continue on Forest Road 4510. After 4.2 miles stay right on the spur road towards Soda Springs trailhead for about 0.5 miles.

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.

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