I wanted to scout this trail as a quick way to enter the heart of the Dark Divide Roadless Area. The late Ira Spring had taken me on this hike in the 1990s, but time had dimmed my memory of the route. This hike is described as Hike 21 - Dark Meadow in the "Day Hiking South Cascades" guidebook. From Randle, we drove one mile south, then turned east on Forest Road 23. We followed FR 23 for nearly 25 miles. Just past the end of pavement, we turned right on unsigned Forest Road 2325, which immediately crosses East Canyon Creek on a bridge. We drove uphill for 5 miles on this gravel road, which has built-up water bars to prevent erosion, to a small, unsigned trailhead on the left with parking on the right shoulder. An obvious trail starts from the road beside a small stream. Our timing was good. Although we were hiking on motorized trails, we did not encounter any motorcycles due to a fire closure order by the Forest Service. Dark Creek Trail #264 climbs gradually up a forested ridge, with occasional openings, for about a mile to an unmarked junction with Boundary Trail #1. We turned right (west) on the Boundary Trail and followed its undulations as it descended to a saddle at the head of Quartz Creek and a signed intersection with Quartz Creek Trail #5 coming in from the south. We descended further to cross the head of Dark Creek where a small spring just below the trail provided a place to wet bandanas and the dog's swamp cooler jacket before the climb to Dark Meadows. We encountered meadows for the next half mile. The topo map shows lakes, but this year they are damp spots filled with willow and slide alder. The Dark Divide is very dry this year and most flowers already had faded. The meadows also show signs of ecological alteration from many years of cattle and sheep grazing in the last century. We checked out some potential backpack campsites, but the water sources were dry. We turned around just prior to the intersection with Juniper Ridge Trail #261 coming in from the north. The heat sapped our energy and we had some steep uphill climbing to do on our return hike. We went about 7 miles round trip.

We hiked from the White Pass CG trailhead to Dog Lake on day hike. There were several LARGE downed tres (6-8) and some required quite a bit of finesses to cross for both humans and dogs. Despite lack of maintenance and the big treets, the trail otherwise was in pretty good condition. The trail starts branches from the PCT a little over a mile form the White Pass CG trailhead (NOT .5 miles from the trailhead as listed in some books--that's an old maintenance/jeep road). Stay on the PCT, cross the jeep road, and then follow to the split in the road--the Dark Meadows trail splits to the right and is labeled. You start the Dark Meadows trail as a slightly downhill to moderate slope, and from there there are a lot of ups and downs along the trail--as some guidebooks list it is relatively flat, it is not. Maneuver around downed trees, but take note in the solitude, we saw no other hikers on this trail the entire day. Dog Lake is a heavily used, campground and lake right on the side of Highway 12, do not expect solitude there, but nonetheless fine for a quick lunch before heading back. As the trail climbs down to get to Dog Lake, expect a bit of a scamper back up for the first .5 miles on the way back. Also, be sure to note the way you arrived at Dog Lake--there is the Dumbell Lake Loop trail and several other small spurs around the start of this trail, but the route on Dark Meadows is marked. Perfect hike for solitutde.

Four of us with a dog hiked from Leech Lake (White Pass Campground) to Dog Lake and back. The trail was quite wet and muddy in places and there were downed trees. Near the beginning of the hike we had to find an alternative way to cross a creek (used a downed tree) as there was not a suitable way to cross. The mosquitoes were pretty thick, especially down closer to Leech Lake.

Hiking with some less experienced backpacking friends and their two dogs. This was a perfect overnight loop as it doesn't gain too much elevation and the trail is 99% clear and easy to follow. Got to Cramer lake trail head at Dog lake around noon. Set out and got to Cramer lake around 2pm for a late lunch. Trail was clear. There is a small stream crossing that was easily traversed on fallen logs after about the first mile. Slight elevation gain through lovely forest with tons of mushrooms. We were a little too late for the boletes which were mostly eaten by worms. A week earlier and we would have had a basket of mushrooms in the first few miles. We ran into two people on horses on Cramer lake trail and a lot of horse evidence. The foliage is starting to change and the colors this week will be beautiful. Arrived at Dumbell lake probably around 4pm and chose a campsite on the peninsula in the center of the lake. We shared this bit of land with a group of fishermen that had rode in on horses, a very friendly bunch. The sunset was lovely and we heard lots of elk noises around dusk. We lucked out with weather the first day, the second day not so much. We woke to cold rain, packed up and got moving to get warm. We headed west on #1156/56 until it met up with the PCT. This area is just beautiful; the mist and clouds through the trees, meadows, marshes, and lakes were just magical. The trail was fairly muddy with a lot of water in the rain, and the horses that road out ahead of us didn't really help. We left the campsite at about 10 am, giving the horse group a head start. We took the Dark Meadows #1106 connector from the PCT back to Dog lake. We did encounter some angry yellow jackets in this portion even in the cold, steady rain. This helped quicken the pace back to the car.

Whitepass Snowshoe 2-7-09 I’ve never been here and wanted to check out the groomed trails I’ve heard so much about. Left the house a little before 7 and got to the parking lot at 9:30, not too bad. I found the Nortic Yurt and bought my trail pass $11. First thing I noticed was the area in which you have to stay on was very narrow for snow shoes not to ruin the cross country groves. Kind of made me nervous to have to watch each step. So as soon as I could I found the PCT and felt much more free. I followed this trail for about an hour until I reached a big open meadow where someone had made places to sit. I ate something there and then headed up in the trees until I lost the trail and turned back. I was on the Dark Meadows trail and it was definitely dark and shaded and until I arrived in the meadows. On the way back down I connected with the groomed dark meadows trail loop and then Zig Zag and I was done. Wanted to do the lake loop too, but I was tired and had a long drive home..4 hours was enough for me today. Views were not that great, it’s definitely not Paradise. Weather was awesome and I got 4 hours of exercise in that’s what is important. Driving views were amazing of St. Helens, Rife Lake and of course Rainer. There is a lot of damage from storms and or floods and I was delayed about an hour going home on HWY 12 so be aware of this if you plan on going anytime soon. They have two places where it’s down to 1 lane. The snow was pretty lame except for in the meadow it was perfect there. At one point on PCT trail I took off my snow shoes because there was no need for them. I was glad to be out today but probably won’t do this area again anytime soon. They can’t all be perfect hikes…