The PCT north of Chinook Pass may have become my favorite summer flower hike. We hiked from the pass north to Arch Rock and back and saw over 70 different flowering species in bloom. Overall the trail is not very strenuous as it starts at high elevation and remains there with only moderate elevation gain and loss. There are sections of steep exposed slopes and gorgeous views into all directions as the trail winds along the ridges leading north. We stayed overnight in Lake Basin which has reliable water and rich flower meadows including slender bog orchid and elephant head lousewort growing along the spring. 

North of Lake Basin the trail leads through many sections of burned forest, east and west of the crest, and is in places rocky and exposed. There is a stretch of seven miles between Crow Basin and Arch Rock without reliable drinking water source, so bring an extra bottle and fill up. The last few miles towards Arch Rock wind through burned forest with a thick grass cover, though in some places where the fire burned very hot, no vegetation has recovered even years after the fire. Peaking through the dead silvery trees are Mt. Steward and the tall peaks of the Alpine Lakes wilderness to the north.

If you want to replace the throng of PCT southbound through-hikers with a herd of Rocky Mountain elk, hike the Lake Basin trail south in the morning to reconnect with the PCT at Crown Point. There are two tarns in Cement Basin that a herd of 20 elk use to wallow and stampede around. In some places the trail is hard to follow because of all the elk social trails. Further south it crosses two sketchy raveling ravines that make the use of hiking poles very welcome. You can also find the endemic Rainiera stricta growing along this trail. This lush green leafy plant is only found on the volcanic slopes east of Mt Rainier and was ready to burst into flower when we passed it on the Fourth of July. Good luck seeing the orange flowers soon.

Back at Sheep Lake, the mosquitoes had a feast, but the water was refreshing, and an easy trail leads back to Chinook Pass. Overall an excellent ridge hike with wildflowers and gorgeous views. If you hike too fast you may miss out on the botanical riches of the central Cascades.

Overnight loop.  We went up from Greenwater Lakes trailhead to Echo Lakes.  This trail is nicely maintained and easy to move, especially with all the new bridges. 

Coming around the north side of Echo Lakes as you enter the burn there is a bridge out that can require some balance or water shoes.  Entering the burn, the trail can be quite hard to follow.  As we worked up the ridge on Arch Rock Trail, often we found ourselves on game trails that led in the wrong direction and had to bushwack back.   Definitely use your nav skills.  The higher on the ridge you get, the easier it is to follow the trail.

Crossing the ridge into Airplane Meadows, there were a few water sources.  We had carried from the lakes but refilled.  We saw bear scat and prints, and found an elk or deer skeleton that didn't look too old, so kept moving onto the PCT.   Once there, navigation was no longer something we had to worry about.

PCT north was great hiking.  We decided to take the gravel road from government camp instead of taking the Naches trail and it was an easy to follow road walk.  Some traffic of off-roaders, target shooters, campers.   The last half mile we hopped on the Naches trail, and that had significant blowdowns and trail blocks.  With tired legs and losing altitude, it was a surprise that a trail that close to the trailhead was so obstructed.  But we made it out and back to the cars.

No snow to worry about, mosquito nets and bug spray were nice to have.

TLDR: Arch Rock Trail is defunct, but overall great route.

As a first 50k run with a friend started at the Chinook Pass PCT trailhead going north, split off the PCT to tag Norse Peak, dropped off the PCT at Arch Rock, descended to Echo Lake, climbed to Corral Pass, and descended to Ranger Creek Airport via Deep Creek trail.

PCT was cruiser as could be. Views at Sourdough Gap and Norse Peak were awesome. For anyone looking for Arch Rock Spring, you can find it by following the Airplane Meadow sign to the crash site, then descending another 100 ft or so off trail - it's north (lookers right) of the odd trail sign in the middle of the field.

Arch Rock Trail from the PCT to Echo Lake *does not exist*. It's relatively easy travel through the burn, if you don't mind sand and many smaller fallen logs. You can periodically pick up remnants of the trail, but even then was hard to follow with decent navigation skills and GPS.

Deep Creek Trail is a bit dusty and blown out, and sometimes a bit narrow and eroded. A number of blowdowns but not terrible. Looked like trail crews were working on clearing it before the summer chainsaw moratorium.

I did an out-and-back hike from the Government Meadows horse camp to Arch Rock.  The last 6 miles of road are a pain, but proved doable in my Prius.  The trail itself, both the connector from the horse camp and the PCT, is in excellent condition.  Downed trees have all been cleared and the wet section described in the previous report is completely dry.

I assume the WTA trail description was written before the Norse Peak fire.  The burned out area begins perhaps a quarter mile after Louisiana Saddle and continues well past Arch Rock.  There is therefore no shade in this section, but the compensating factor is the shoulder-high lupine, in full bloom at the moment.

I tried to follow the instructions for the side trip to Arch Rock itself, but these are no longer accurate.  Any sign was apparently burned out.  There is a cairn marking the side trail, but this now leads only to the campsite-- there was no branch leading up the hill to the Rock.  I ended up going cross-country uphill from the campsite and reached a fairly level ridge, which I was able to follow to Arch Rock.  (I came back by heading further south on the ridge, avoiding the steep descent.)

Arch Rock is a worthwhile destination.  There were views south to Mt. Rainier, a peek-a-boo view of Mt. Adams, clear if distant views of the Stuart Range and Mt. Daniel, and a look straight down at Echo Lake.  As a bonus, there were half a dozen mountain goats at the summit as I arrived, although they promptly scurried down the cliff and I managed to get a picture of only one of them.

I encountered 7 hikers on the PCT as I hiked southbound, and another 4 on the return.  All were through or section hikers.  On my way back I saw what I initially thought was a storm cloud, apparently east of Chinook Pass, but which I now think was a new forest fire somewhere in that area.  Otherwise, however, the air was smoke-free and there was very little haze.

I measured a round trip of 12.4 miles with about 1800 feet cumulative elevation gain.

Just out to get a few miles in - probably managed about eight miles total. Started at the Government Meadows Horse Camp at the end of FR70, took the trail up to the PCT, turned south and hiked for a couple of hours(ish), then turned around and came back.

FR70 is in decent shape. A few potholes, some ruts, but overall not bad. Just be careful if you don't have a bit of clearance. And for Pete's sake! Watch your rearview mirror and move aside if anyone catches up with you.

The trail between Gov't Meadows Horse Camp and the PCT has six or seven down trees across it. All are manageable, just a bit of a hassle. 

As you approach the Maggie Creek trail intersection (leads down to Lost, Echo, and Greenwater Lakes), the trail becomes...well...a creek. And stays a creek for quite a ways. Waterproof hiking shoes will probably be enough to keep your feet dry.

There were a few clumps of snow on the trail, but all were easy to get across. I expect they'll be gone soon.

Mosquitos!!! Not horrible, but plan for them. Layer up with the repellent of your choice before you get started, and plan on re-applying more often than I did (I went at least an hour between, and that was too long!).

Remember that you're up at about a mile elevation, which means the air will probably be a bit thinner than you're used to, and the sun will be more intense. Water, sunblock, and don't be surprised if you feel a bit winded.