I hiked the South Fork Cascade River trail with two friends on 10/13/24. We hiked about a mile beyond the Middle Fork junction, into the talus slopes and under the cliffs. The condition of the trail was pretty good. It was not that different from any other USFS trail. It could use some brushing and cleanup, but nothing that would stop a hiker with good boots. I didn’t see any sign of fire damage to the trail. I believe we hiked past the vicinity of the burn area. But the trail would benefit from some basic “dressing” in places. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this hike, knowing that you can always stop and turn around if you run into problems further south than we traveled. The South Fork trail lacks the dramatic scenery of Cascade Pass or Hidden Lake Peak. But it is a forest of secrets. Special treat - large and tall old growth hemlock and cedar. Also, this remote area is in the MB/S NF and not the NCNP so you don't have the hassles of recreation.gov if you want to camp. Just saying. Bur there is an effort to move it into the park. 

As an aside, we were going to hike to Cascade Pass but the parking lot was so full it would’ve made Walmart proud. I’ve never seen so many cars at Cascade Pass. This trail was a nice nearby alternative. It takes more work but we were the only people there.

Update:  As of 9PM July 19, Cascade River Road is closed at Marble Creek due to the Pincer 2 Fire, started July 18th.  I was through here at 6PM with no hoopla, they will have to let the campers farther up straggle out. 

"...extends about 3 mi. near the river, then the route follows the U.S.G.S. trail in this magnificent wild valley.  The trail climbs steeply at about 4 mii. to detour Box Canyon, open timber (4600') is found near the outlet of Berry Patch Creek's basin.  A grade climbs to Mertensia Pass (4940'+) - meadow camping.  Continue upslope in open forest to Salix Creek and the old lateral moraine at 5200 ft. (est. 8 mi. from road).  The streamflow gaging station below the lake is government property."
                     
                    Cascade Alpine Guide   1977

Took this out to the brush-view rock, above Box Canyon, maybe 6 miles (road walk adds a little under 2 miles to the distances in the CAG).    USGS map   Someone since I last visited has cut out all the logs - really big ones, too.  A few are cut like a tunnel, imagine how hard that was on their arms!  At one point I had to backtrack a quarter mile to retrieve the rake I forgot after tying my shoe.

Trail is there the whole way, nice in places and very brushy in others. Over your head.  And the prickliest, stingiest stuff.  Some of it went right thorough my pants, my unprotected hands.  Too brushy for even the ticks!

Just before the rock you'll notice a lower trail R blocked with sticks, this is the one I found the first time I was here, and I believe to be the original.  Only half-ass looked for it today, but with the pile of sticks it can't be missed.  Turns out Porcupine Woman piled the sticks, her Report from a couple years ago describes this area in detail.  They made it a little farther from the rock, trail finding can be easier with 2 people.  These guys made it through, 1 way downhill.

I had my overnight gear and would have camped and looked another day, but the nearest possible camp was over an hour back.  A small creek is crossed a few minutes before the lost bit, but no flat places to lay.  5 hours in, 4 out.  I added a few flags, raked a bit.  More than anything it needs more feet on to beat down the soft stuff.  I will figure this out!

I did more research writing this Report than I did preparing for the hike, time to go back!  If anyone is interested I would do this again next Wednesday, create a campsite near the stream (or use camp near rock from PW's Report), work on the trail for a few days.  Forecast cooler temps will be nice.  Comment below, or I may go somewhere else.

This is one of my favorite hikes for solitude (the road sees a lot of traffic because people are headed to the end of the road inside North Cascades National Park.  The trailhead is unmarked.  The trail is under the jurisdiction of the US Forest Service, so dogs are okay (compared to no dogs allowed on the National Park trails)  At Marblemount I set my trip odometer to zero at the start of the Cascade River Road.  The first 10 miles are paved, then it is gravel.  My trip odometer read 16.9 miles at the trailhead, which is also the location of the last switchback on the road. (see photo)

The first 45 minutes are on an old logging road that is now closed to vehicles.  There is one year-round stream along the old logging road that is easily crossed on a double log bridge.  After the logging road the trail travels slightly downward until it is close to the South Fork Cascade River.  A little bit farther and the trail junction for the Middle Fork Cascade River trail is reached.  Keep right and continue on the South Fork Cascade River trail.  When the trail reaches the Middle Fork of the Cascade River, one must cross it on a log that has been flattened on top.  Someone has sprinkled small rocks on top, which helps with the traction.  If walking across the log is too scary for you, sitting on the log like a horse and butt-scooting is acceptable and I've seen other people do that.

After crossing the log, the trail stays away from the South Fork Cascade River for awhile, and then drops down to the floodplain, crosses a very shallow side stream, and at 3.2 miles from the trailhead one arrives at what I call the Big Rock campsite.  The trail and campsite is between the river and the Big Rock. There were lots of blueberries just past this camp site, which is where I turned around today.

Some day I hope to hike the total 9 miles (one way) to South Cascade Lake, but for me it is at least a three day (two night) expedition, and the trail gets pretty rugged in places. On the return hike I walked a short distance on the Middle Fork Cascade River trail, turning around where the trail is lost in an area of boulders that must be clambered up and over (which I've done in the past, but not today). 

The trail seems explicitly open (that is, the forest service has moved the warning sign clearly off the trail), WTA notice notwithstanding.

Hiked out to the South-Middle fork confluence as an morning hike before leaving my Mineral Park campsite.

By car, the road was a bit washboard at places but is basically luxurious if you've been on any of the forest roads in the area. I went on foot the last half-mile or so to the trailhead (I was staying at the nearby campgrounds), and that was fine too - a bit dusty, but you can hear the cars coming. Might be a bit annoying if there's a lot of traffic, like if you hit a rush of people presumably going to Cascade Pass. Shout-out to the friendly person who checked to make sure the weird hiker plodding on the road was okay!

The trail is obvious and easy to follow - a bit overgrown as expected, and you feel as though it would peter out if you went much past the fork. Not much to see until you descend to the river a few miles in. A good hike for hike's sake I'd say.

We only did the first mile and a half as it was hot, scrubby, and overall not too thrilling for a late afternoon jaunt. Had we set out earlier and with more purpose, I'm sure we'd at least have made it to the confluence and beyond. Anyhow, it's still a nice, easy stroll for anyone seeking absolute solitude - no sign of any other people the entire time, but be forewarned there were signs of recent bear activity, ie does the Pope wear a funny hat?