Just thought I'd say there are a few downed logs a little over 2 miles from the trailhead. I could not drive past these logs. A bike wouldve been useful. I did a 40 mile loop going through Cady ridge to the pct to Indian Head peak to the poets ridge to Whittier then to poe mountain trail back to the road then the road walk back to my car. Mainly just reporting this so someone can maybe clear these logs.

This made a nice snowshoe hike but it starts at the end of the county road at the gate.  The road was plowed up to that point, and there was a good-sized parking area that had been plowed recently.  The trail (in other seasons, it is a road) was well-suited for snowshoeing, wide enough in most places for the four of us to walk side by side.  Meandering through a forest of ponderosa pines, grand firs, and Douglas-fir, the trail also provided views of the mountain ridge.  We were there mid-day on Saturday and saw only two other hikers, neither using snow shoes, so special equipment was not required beyond snow boots.

Every year for many years, my wife and I have done a 10-day backpack. We're getting on, so we didn't hike every day this time and our days were quite short.

This year's started up the NF Skykomish, which was in very good condition, then turned right onto the Pass Creek trail. The first night, we stayed at the large camp just before the NF Sky river crossing. Heading up the Pass Creek trail, we soon passed a nice 1-tent campsite on the other side of the Pass Creek crossing, easy on a small footlog. The Pass Creek Trail was also in very good condition. We spent our 2nd and 3rd nights at the large campsite where the Pass Creek Trail joins the PCT, just us and about 10 thru-hikers. New pit toilet here and excellent water.

On day 4, we hiked our very favorite trail, the PCT, north to Lake Sally Ann where my wife had her first backpack overnight, about 40 years ago. The PCT of course is in perfect condition. Much of the camping at this popular lake is now on dirt. On the other hand, there's a pit toilet. The FS trail crews have been very active the past couple years, putting in new pit toilets, and we greatly appreciate not finding the woods full of crossed sticks and toilet paper. 

Day 5 was north to Meander Meadow. We hiked down the Little Wenatchee trail to get there, which is in poor condition. It seems not to have been brushed in at least 10 years. It was a fight even going downhill. Needs some shovel work, too. The camping there was excellent with another pit toilet and very good water. The camping area probably has a spot for maybe 30 tents, but the trailhead was closed due to fire, so we had the place to ourselves. Very few hikers drop the 500' down just to have a nice camp with the sound of flowing water. We took another day off here.

On day 7 we decided that the Little Wenatchee would be even less fun uphill and decided to take the southern trail from the Meadow up to the PCT. The start was a bit hard to find in the meadow, but the switchbacks on the hillside were easy to spot so we did find it. The trail was well built and though obviously little used, it was vastly better than the Little Wenatchee. I would give it a Good. That is, until we reached the ridgeline where it forked.

We could see a trail heading back toward the PCT/Little Wenatchee junction, but the trail on the map is shown on the south side of the ridge, meeting the PCT much further to the south, so we took that one. After a bit, it became obvious that this trail has been completely abandoned. The fact that it was by far the more traveled was only because of the out-and-back traffic after hikers hit the bad stuff. We persisted, following what looked like the signs of passage of one other person this year. It was quite a struggle through heavy cover over considerable exposure. Not recommended. It became normal trail again a few tenths before we reached the PCT.

We took the PCT to the Bald Eagle (Curry Gap) Trail, which doesn't seem to be listed in the WTA database though that's how it's signed. We took the long way around to our next camp at Blue Lake, following the Bald Eagle and then what was signed as the Pilot Ridge trail (though that didn't make any sense) to Lower and then upper Blue Lake. That was a tougher go than we expected as the trail was quite rough and had more elevation gain and loss that we expected. I'd give it a Fair. 

Nights 7 and 8 we spent at Blue Lake. There were only a couple other hikers there the first night and none the second. There are 2 (two) new pit toilets at Blue Lake, both of them clearly visible from the main trail, one with both front and back views. Whatever. Wonderful place. 

Fires: The three fires on the Little Wenatchee had been burning for many days before we started. They were burning slowly and not moving except a little uphill. We had smoke from them when the wind was from the east and very good air when it was from the west. Even with an easterly wind, the smoke wasn't too bad. At Blue Lake though we saw smoke beginning to fill the valley to our west. There had been no fire there when we started our hike. It was a long way away, between us and the Monte Cristo group so we didn't worry.

On day 9, we headed out over the High Route to get back to the Bald Eagle trail. It wasn't as difficult as I had imagined and went fine. There's exposure, but it's a built trail and the footing was about as good as it gets for this sort of thing. It's quite steep, over 20° for a lot of it. We hiked the Bald Eagle Trail to its junction with the NF Skykomish, and then down to a very good camp at the junction of 3 streams. Down in the valley, we hiked through acres of blueberries, yum. 

Day 10 was out to the car at the NF Sky/West Cady Ridge/Quartz Creek trailheads. The drive home was interesting. After driving over Jack's Pass we drove down the Beckler River road. Down on the pavement section we drove below a considerable fire burning on our side of the ridge. At the junction with Hwy 2, instead of heading for Everett, we were directed to Leavenworth-97-I90-I405, etc. The smoke we'd seen was from the Boldt fire.

We've always carried a PLB (personal locator beacon) for emergencies. However if the wind had been different, we might not have been able to get out. If it had been really different, it could have come up the NF valley and possible gotten us. So next time, we'll be bringing a satellite communicator, like all the thru-hikers are using now. Just in case.

In our opinion, the Little Wenatchee River Trail and the trail we took out of Meander Meadow are perfect candidates for WTA's Lost Trails Found program!

It was the best of trails, it was the worst of trails...  Hiked up Cady Ridge, over to Dishpan Gap, down to Meandering Meadows and finished on the Little Wenatchee River trail clockwise as a day hike (clocked 16 miles round trip). 

The WTA description details a counterclockwise loop starting on the Little Wenatchee and finishing coming down Cady Ridge - I would not suggest this, in fact I wouldn't suggest the Little Wenatchee River trail to anyone, but more on that later.

The hike up to Cady Ridge is steep in some spots, and there is a stretch that is definitely a slog, but there are tons of blueberries to snack on and keep your energy levels up. Once you make it to the ridge, it's absolute paradise. Amazing views every which way, the fall colors are in full effect. Take your time to take it all in! 

Hiking down to Meandering Meadow was pleasant, but it couldn't hold a candle to the majesty of Cady Ridge. When I return to this area, I won't go back down to the meadow, viewing it from above was nice enough. Next time I'll explore more of the ridge views and perhaps loop back down via Cady Creek trail, make a larger backpacking trip from the PCT, or just double back down on the ridge trail. 

After passing through the meadow, down the switchbacks to the Little Wenatchee River trail, things got brushy, really brushy. We couldn't see our feet for long stretches of time. We had to use out hiking polls to push encroaching vegetation including devils club away from our legs 70% of the way. I also managed to get stung by a yellow jacket that I couldn't see (we heard buzzing, I was behind my friend, and felt a sharp sting in my calf despite wearing leggings).  So heads up, there may or may not be a yellow jacket nest about 3 miles from the trailhead. If you are going to do this part of the trail, wear long pants and if you are doing it in the AM, be ready to get wet from dew.

Only saw 6 other people on the trail the whole day - two solo backpackers heading down, one PCT hike, a pair of overnight hikers, and one other day hiker.

All in all, it was an amazing day in the Central Cascades.

Trail overgrown scratching our legs. The waterfall was dried up. Super narrow trail. Bugs were relentless. Was not a 3 mile hike. We hiked for 3 miles and did not end up at the parking lot. Ended up hiking for 6 miles in the sun. Pretty views but hard to enjoy because you have to watch where you step every second. Don’t know if we messed up but would not go back. Also pictures are not what the hike looks like.