The plan was to do Osborne Mountain #250 from the Big Creek CG which has a  good elevation gain and mileage. As we entered Ashford and slowed to an eventual stop and go situation a mere 0.8 miles from our turnoff, we changed plans. Call me naive, but I figured with the timed entry, it would be easy going. And this was still over 3 miles from the park entrance.

So we changed our route to head to Osborne from the east off FS 8410. This would make up for lost time and we could go visit a couple lakes as well, The road going in was rough, mostly in the first couple of 5.3 miles. There are no signs so have a map that doesn't rely on GPS. My GPS was way off course, but there was really only 1 turnoff that was an issue.

We arrived to the parking with 10 other vehicles in the lot and a few along the road. As soon as we opened the door, a bee flew in and wasn't too happy about getting stuck. We eventually got it out, but bugs would be an issue today. We headed up The Teeley Creek Trail #251 and soon saw people camping along the first small lake maybe 1500 feet in. The trail was easygoing with decent tread and moderate incline. We continued to Bertha May Lake and admired the Sawtooths above. There were quite a few people camping there and after speaking with them we realized we had to head back down to the junction with 251 then up. 

There were endless ripe black and oval leaf huckleberry and even some salmonberry! I thought there were a lot along Huckleberry Creek and Commonwealth Basin, but this trail had so many more. 

The trail ended up on the road we drove up. We went up the rough road which provided some shade, but was mostly exposed. In 0.2 we passed the continuation of #251, which is where we would've come up in our original plan. We continued up for 0.5 miles and found the bootpath to the viewpoint. It's faint, and easier to see going up. Once there, we saw Rainier wearing a skirt of clouds and a clear view of the valley below. 

On the way back down I collected some berries and we debated on whether to head over to Bertha may and Granite, but ultimately went back down. At the car I got bit several times by flies as I changed. Bugs had been circling the whole trip, but never bothersome until this point. 

On the drive down we passed 7 cars - We only had to stop once and let the other car pass. On the way up, we only passed 1 truck. There was only one section with some sharp rocks that the Accord we passed might have had trouble with.

Heading back, traffic was a breeze.

We were looking for some exercise and we got it.  Took an overnight to hike from the Big Creek Campground into Bertha Mae Lake.  The next morning hiked packless to Cora Lake, back to Bertha Mae where we picked up our camp and then back to the car.  A lot of elevation, but a beautiful place. No big views, but big hemlock trees and lovely lakes.

Hiked from the Big Creek Campground up and up and up Trail 250 - Osborne Mountain trail.  Grueling, and a slog.  It didn't help that we're older, a little out of shape.  Once we got to the top of the ridge and broke over onto the south slope of Osborne Mountain it was a gentle upward traverse.  We came upon an older clear cut.  And we love clear cuts because.... huckleberries without the fire!  We were surprised to see them ripe and tarried a bit snacking.  This led us to a FS road crossing that confused us:  so to follow Tr 250, take a right onto the road and then a left down and around a curve.  Then on the right side of the road pick up the trail again.  Go through this but do NOT leave the forest trail.  Go with the faint trail in the duff heading right, not onto the road again.  

We messed this up and ended up walking the FS road down, down, down to the Teely Creek #251 trail head. There is a big parking lot, unmissable. Past pretty Pothole, up and up to beautiful Bertha Mae where we camped. 

The next morning on #251, we went a little ways to gorgeous Granite Lake, then around a drainage and #252 down to Cora.  Snack there and reverse the trip back to the lake.  This time we left #251 at a switch back and found the other end of #250.   This climbed straight up to the FS road, where we realized what we had done wrong.  I placed sticks across the wrong way trail!  This was surely more direct than the road we had walked the previous day, but steep. All the country on this hike is steep.  On the way back we picked more huckleberries in the clear cut and then pounded down, down, down to the CG.

The trail is challenging, not just because of the steepness, but because bikes use the trails too.  I can't hate on bikes because we all need to be allied fighting against the movement to rewild and exclude humans, but the trail is pretty rutted in places, roots are the only water bars and they have blown out several switchbacks.  Manageable, but not the smoothest tread.

Overall a nice hike, the lakes are nice.  There are some peek-a-boo views of Rainier and the Sawtooths, but not a view hike.  A lovely forest walk.  

This hike is labelled "Big Creek" #252 on WTA.  The trail here is actually "Osborne MTN" Trail #250.  The trail begins from the "Big Creek" campground. There are three dedicated trail parking spots next to trailhead. Hiked part way up trail for about 2 miles on 6-12-2025.  Trail is clear and dry. Trail is in the tree canopy, no open areas or meadows. Salmon berries are ripe. At beginning, trail has a slight up grade, but after a few hundred yards after crossing bridge, trail climbs steadily and steeply the rest of the way.

Lots of elevation gain, bring good shoes and a hiking stick. Beautiful views.

Blog version (disclaimers)

Access: Big Creek Campground
Round Trip: 9 miles
Elevation Range: 1800′-5051′
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes

Route

1. Hike the trail to the trail fork on the northwest ridge in 2.5 miles.
2. Leave the path and traverse the crest to Road 8410 past 4800'.
3. Walk the road until it begins to dip and return to the ridgeline to finish.

Highlights

• Expansive views of the Nisqually River Valley below Mount Rainier
• Seeing the sheer High Rock Lookout and the dramatic Sawtooth Spires

Lowlights

• Subfreezing temperatures on a windy day