Three of us checked out the Church Creek trail today.  The road in is a mixed bag.  The section of FR 23 after it turns off from the Lower South Fork road is badly potholed.  FR 2361 is in pretty good shape, but the road to the trailhead (FR 2361-600) has a long series of drainage trenches crossing the road which require slow and careful driving.  They were manageable in our SUV and probably navigable in most sedans, but any car with significant overhangs in front or behind would face problems.

Where the road ends, the trailhead is not obvious but can be found behind a row of rocks, as shown in the picture.  The trail itself is fairly steep for the first mile or more, and had scattered debris particularly in the first half-mile.  There was only one significant obstacle, a large tree down over the trail on a steep traverse (pictured), which was tricky to get over.

Snow was encountered at about the 2500 elevation, and quickly became widespread and at times deep.  We were able to follow the trail up to the abandoned road at about 1.5 miles from the trailhead, but then searched in vain for the continuation of the trail beyond the road.  The snow was mostly firm, but we still occasionally postholed.  Trekking poles and microspikes were a help, although one of us managed with neither.

Coming back down the trail, we encountered a party from the Olympia Mountaineers who had come to check up on the trail.  They indicated they would come back shortly to do some trail maintenance, so the trail may improve before long, although snow in the upper sections is likely to remain for several weeks yet.

This was a Mountaineers Scouting trip to see what needed to be worked on to improve/and maintain the trail.  We started on the Skokomish (east) side of the trail.  The trail was in pretty good condition with just a few small trees down (easily to climb over) for the first 1.5 miles.  However, on arriving to the decommissioned road the snow became quite thick and while passable slowed us down and made it difficult to see what repair work needed to be done.  We turned around here since it would have been impossible to see what other work needed to be done.

The wildflowers were wonderful.  We saw blooming wild ginger, carpets of avalanche lilies (so you know that the snow has just melted) - and I mean carpets!, alpine white marsh marigolds, fairyslippers orchids, tiger lilies, trillium (yes, they were still blooming in June! - what does that tell your?) and I am probably forgetting some so forgive me.

 

Just wanted to report that there is a yellow jacket nest near the top of the ridge on the east side. They are aggressive (and quite potent). I took some rocks and wrote the letter "B" on the trail on either side of the nest. Be careful. Trail was quite nice although the day was pretty cloudy.

Doing this report late - Went for a three day backpacking trip - first one. It was great. We went in from Church Creek east - the seemingly lesser used trail head as the west end is much shorter. The east end has lots of switch backs and had plenty of fresh berries for snacking. The weather was beautiful and the fishing was great at the lake - dogs loved it. Trail is in good condition thanks to the local chapter of mountaineers, they were doing some trail work when we passed through. Beautiful hike.

This trip report will cover directions, trail condition, and our hike experience (flowers, berries, misc), in that order, so you can skip to what you want. Directions: It seemed that prior reporters either found the trailhead (TH) without issue or not at all. Here’s my guess: the former group used the website hiking guide or Romano’s book while the latter used the WTA app. The app is confusing. Here are the Nutmeg directions. Turn off Hwy 101 onto Skokomish Valley Road. After about 8 miles, bear right onto FR 23 and set your trip odometer to zero (or do math). At 9.1 miles, keep left at the junction. At 13.4 miles, keep right onto FR 2361 (this is one of those triangle junctions, and there’s a sign at the apex). This road recently really sucked, but it’s in great condition now. Cool! At 16.7 miles, turn left onto the signed 600 spur. Here’s where the fun of the new drainage dips begins. If you have a low rider, you might want to – or have to -- adapt your quest and head for Upper S. Fork Skok (keep straight on 2361 to the end). These dips are not child’s play, and there are 27 of them in 2.2 miles until the road ends at the trailhead (18.9 miles from where you turned off the 101). I mean, they’re at least 2 feet deep and maybe 4-5’ wide. Apparently this is good (certainly cheaper and less maintenance than other options)? Who am I to question the USFS? Anyhoo, our Outback made it. The other 2 vehicles at the TH were pickups belonging to 4 lovely and hardy backpackers and 2 pooches we met going in & out. There is no privy at the TH, and you don’t need any pass. There is a fine turnaround. Trail condition: The trail is definitely more rugged and less maintained that its South Fork Skok sister. It’s a bit rocky, rooty, and steep in sections, and there are some downed trees to contend with. However, relatively recent logout is clear on the way up, and near Satsop Lake we encountered a wonderful volunteer crew from the Olympia Moutaineers logging out a few bugger blowdowns, brushing, and doing drainage work. At about 2.5 miles, as noted by a prior reporter (and thank you – we would totally have gone awry!), there is a log where it looks like you go down to the left, but you actually go straight. It’s possible the volunteers got that one out. There are some blue huckleberry bushes intruding on the trail, pushing hikers to the outside (downhill) side, so that would be a good project if this trail gets more work. Trail experience: Make no mistake. This trail is uphill both ways (and, to be fair, downhill!). It starts climbing almost right off, gaining 1,300’ in not much more than 1.5 miles before there’s a flat bit along an old road bed. The trail is clearly delineated with a line of rocks here, so even I could not go astray. Better yet, there are snacks all the way up in the form of copious red and blue huckleberries! Our little dog kept running to the end of his leash and picking them off bushes until I caught up. Oh, for 4-wheel drive like he has. After the flat bit, it’s down for 1,000 feet to the lake. In part because the lake has no outlet, it is really warm (by my standards). I stayed in for over ½ hour without any chill. Having wet clothes for the climb out was a huge bonus as it was maybe 72 degrees. You’re in the woods a lot of the ways, but that’s still pretty hot. There are few blooms right now – saw some late bleeding heart, foamflower, bunchberry, arnica, and paintbrush. The huckleberries steal the show. There’s also plump salmonberry and, at the lake, thimbleberry. The duck-under trees are ok with a daypack. One requires crawling (probably two with a full pack). Depending how much the volunteers cut through, there are about half dozen of these. The step-overs are easy except one, and a few are notched. My husband found this trail more difficult than he anticipated. When we were on the way down to the lake, and he had enough breath to talk, he said, “There better not be some easy, ½-mile way into this lake.” I bit my tongue, knowing that there is (from Wynoochee). I was outed by the trail crew, who had come the easy way, but also helpfully mentioned it’s a long drive from Oly. We saw a total of four hikers (full packs, poor dears) from the Skok side, and the trail crew of around 10 folks, four hikers, and 2 fishermen from the Wynoochee side. I cleared a lot of spider webs for the backpackers behind us. Five dogs on trail (including ours), all on leash. Only a couple peek-a-boo views through the trees up the switchbacks, but the towering trees, berries, and solitude compensate!