Hikeoftheweek.com

Hike of the Week for Friday, July 22, 2011

Kelley Creek

Wild Sky gem and quiet portal to Johnson Ridge

Article and photo by Craig Romano

Rapid River Valley from Johnson Ridge.

Quick Facts

Location: Wild Sky Wilderness, Skykomish Valley

Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Roundtrip: 7.0 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet

Green Trails Map: Stevens Pass-No. 176, Benchmark Mtn-No. 144 (trail not shown)

Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (360) 677-2414; www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs

Notes: Expect to encounter snow last mile of hike.

Access: Drive US 2 east 6.3 miles past Skykomish, turning left onto the Old Cascade Highway at Milepost 55. Proceed for 2.3 miles turning left onto FR 6710—and then continue 2.8 miles (passing Iron Goat trailhead) bearing left at a junction. In another .3 mile bear left again coming to a bridge over Martin Creek. Park here and walk across it locating a brushy old logging road on your left. This is the trailhead.

Don’t let the uninspiring beginning of this hike set your mood. Despite following an old grown-in logging road for the first mile, it’s not rough. Push through the scrappy alders (they do periodically get cut back) for one mile and you’ll reach spectacular old-growth forest. The forest here along Kelley Creek is so grand and special that it was included in the Wild Sky Wilderness when it was established in 2008.

Once beyond the old cut, you’ll follow a trail long abandoned by the Forest Service, but kept on life support by a handful of hikers who refuse to see this great path fade away. And the Volunteers for Outdoor Washington (VOW) will soon be resuscitating this trail. These dedicated trail builders plan on extending the path to the Martin Creek Trailhead on the Iron Goat Trail by roughly following the original route of the trail. It’ll be a much nicer and more interesting approach. And will more than likely mean more hikers will find their way up Kelley Creek once that happens—so savor the solitude now!

The old but still in good shape trail travels under an ancient forest canopy alongside crashing Kelley Creek. While much of the tread is covered in soft mosses it is well defined. Remarkable too is that very few of the old-growth giants lining the way have fallen across the path when nature has called them back to nourish the forest floor. Marvel at the big cedars and hemlocks along the way.

Soon begin climbing, angling upwards out of the creek valley onto the western slopes of Captain Point. At about 1.8 miles reach a creek in a deep gully which may be tricky to cross A rope is in place to help you along. Continue gaining elevation catching nice glimpses of 6,190-foot Mount Fernow across the valley.

After one final steep push around some ledges reach the 5,100-foot ridge crest where the trail peters out in a flat of heather. Experienced off-trail travelers can continue however by following remnants of the old Johnson Ridge Trail 1.75 miles to a meadow just below Scorpion Mountain.

For information on lodging and other attractions near Kelley Creek, visit www.snohomish.org.