This is an easy up-and-down 5 mile hike from Bonneville Trailhead on Highway 14 to a creek and campsite just past Two Chiefs Trail.

The hike begins on the Tamanous Trai to the PCT, turning left northward to the camp site. The camp site is large enough for 2-3 tents with a clear creek for good water. 

The trail  has some minor  brush growing over the trail, but is still passable. There was a step-over blow down at Green Leaf Creek.

I  did not  encounter any ticks.

Section H - WA PCT

Mt. Adams Wilderness

Two sections hiked:

Big Mosquito Lake to Williams Mine TH (07/14/25)

Williams Mine TH to Adams Creek (07/18/25)

Big Mosquito to Williams: 23.2m, 3,717’ elev.

Williams to Adams Creek: 25.1m, 3,229’ elev.

Total: 48.3m, 6,946’ elev.

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Section between Big Mosquito Lake and Williams Mine was in excellent shape, all blow downs cleared. Mosquitoes we horrid, but it’s mid-July so it’s to be expected. Side trip to Steamboat Lake was well work the minor amount of walking.

Williams Mine to Adams Creek still has blow downs starting at about 3 miles in when heading NOBO. Largest concentration of blow downs is in the burn area between the Riley Camp trail and Horseshoe Meadow; blow downs are still present from the meadow up to Adams Creek, but less frequent and less complicated. Flowers are in peak bloom - Sitka valerian, paintbrush and lupine dominant. Most of the bear grass is past bloom in this segment. Adams Creek was running high and fast. Check FarOut for crossing info from section and thru hikers before planning a trip! I was told there are a few options; Adams Creek was my planned turn around point. Saw numerous section hikers and my first NOBOs, who were preparing to finish on 08/02 at the north terminus. Very rare these days to meet NOBOs who will complete the trail in on continuous foot path with no fire alternates!

PCT SOBO - Crest Camp to Bridge of the Gods. July 2-5.   

Trail in very good shape the whole way, with a few blowdowns, no snow, and amazingly minimal bugs.  (Another homer told us they were much worse at Trout Lake.) 

Camped at Camp 14 (with a view of Mt Hood), Trout Creek, and Rock Creek.  Surprisingly uncrowded for a holiday weekend.  Rock Creek, which was our favorite campsite, had a vacant tent site.   

The major issue is water   We were traveling with a party of four, so water at the campsites make things easier.  There are precious few camps with running water nearby   Even at camp 14, a couple of us had to hike a half mile (each way) and 450 feet down (and back up) to trickling Cedar Creek to gather water for our camp.  So plan carefully if you don’t want to carry water for a long distance.  

Section H - WA PCT in Southwest WA

Indian Heaven Wilderness

30.6m, 3,238’ elevation

PCT NOBO/SOBO - started this LONG trail day at Placid Lake trail 29, a side trail that offers access into the central portion of the Indian heaven wilderness. The road up to Placid Lake TH was in great shape - a few potholes near the TH but the rest was either paved or very well graded gravel.

From the junction with the PCT and Placid Lake trail, I headed SOBO to Junction Lake. My hike Sunday ended just before the East Crater trail so I picked up the last mile or so south past Junction Lake. I expected snow between Placid and Junction Lake, but there was only a few limited patches. The PCT in the wilderness is pretty much flat and fast. My average miles/hour for this trip was 3.6!

Headed back SOBO from the end point, I passed Elk Lake, Bear Lake, Deer Lake. On the section just south of the Sawtooth Mtn. trail, there was a giant patch of snow in the shadows which was melting and freezing over, making it a sheet of ice! Once through that, the trail was flat and fast to Sawtooth TH. The forest in the northern portion of the wilderness is pretty boring (?) - not a lot of undergrowth, dark and dry. The trail between Sawtooth and Big Mosquito improves - some old growth and the trail is very flat and fast through. Turned around at about 1 mile passed the bridge over mosquito creek. Road walked FR 30 back to the car, which sounds bad but really isn’t awful. The flowers and trees along the road were nice and the road was even enjoyable since I could look around as I walked instead of just down at the trail avoiding rocks and roots :)

Ran into one section hiker only who was heading from FR23 to Cascade Locks. Mosquitoes were present but not horrible. 

pacific crest trail | crest camp NOBO to east crater rim #48 [2025]

Section H - WA PCT in Southwest WA

Indian Heaven Wilderness

18.1m, 2,540’ elevation

PCT NOBO - Crest Camp to East Crater Trail 48. The road to the TH is in great shape - crews are out maintaining the potholes in the last few weeks too. The trail starts out relatively flat. Just after the junction with Indian Race Track there is a hard turn to the right that I missed - ended up bush whacking back to the trail. The approach to Berry Mtn is lined with bear grass in full bloom! Views from the south ridge of Berry Mtn offers views of Mt Hood and Jefferson, as well as Red Mtn. Snow patches started at about 4,200’ and became heavier into the shade of the interior of the wilderness. There were about ~12-15 blow downs. A few backpackers at Blue Mtn; did not encounter any thru hikers or section hikers today. Turned around at the East Crater Trail #48 and back out to the car at Crest Camp TH.