I went looking for a snow-free backpack on Memorial Weekend and this was a good option in country I'd never visited. This fit the bill and was a great day but not without it's drawbacks. If you're willing to accept blowdowns and ticks, this rolling hike has great views and varied terrain. 

Highlights - rolling hills than rolling forest, good views and great weather. Blowdowns on the second part and ticks took away from the allure. All the creek beds have water for now. 

The plan was to hike to the end of the trail at Hall Creek Road, camp, then head back the next day. I got a 5:30am start so I made great time and enjoyed the morning views, including one bear and two coyotes. At the intersection with Thirteenmile Road, just east of Mile Mountain, I ran into a backpacker who said he'd run into ticks on the trail I'd just finished. I thought I'd lucked out, but more on that later. After this, the trail enters the woods. The mosquitoes weren't bad, but the blowdowns got worse and worse. By the time I got to Bear Pot, I'd gone over/under/around 30-40 trees. The cabin and pond were worth it, but I wasn't interested in going any further. It was only noon, so I decided to start heading back and camp later in the day and out of the forest. Sure enough, as soon as I got close to Mile Mountain, I started picking up ticks every few minutes. I counted 10 over the mile and half stretch. I realized later than 4 more had found their way onto my legs under my pants. This was my first experience with so many ticks and having them attach - creepy but now I can say I have. After this, and by the afternoon, I was close enough to finish by 6pm so I kept hoofing it to the finish. 

Overall, it was a good day. Challenging in all the right ways for me right now. 

I backpacked Thirteenmile trail solo from the Thirteenmile trailhead to the Bear Pot trailhead and back between May 18-19 and really enjoyed the trip.  This trail is somewhat challenging but I was rewarded with fantastic views of Colville National Forest and desired solitude. The trail from Thirteenmile trailhead heading east is consistently uphill until you reach the east side of Thirteenmile Mountain. Although the grade is not extreme, the climb felt relentless at times. There were a few small fallen trees crossing the trail between the trailhead and Thirteenmile Mountain that I would expect most people to be able to step or gently hurdle over. However, deadfall becomes more frequent and challenging to cross over, under, and around throughout the drainages near Bear Pot trailhead. I did not encounter any snow. There are several opportunities to resupply water in draws visible on maps between Thirteenmile trailhead and FS 2054. However, the spring fed creek just east of FS 2054 is the last good water resupply point for several miles until the trail crosses a fork of Thirteenmile Creek that drains the Bear Pot area, southwest of the trailhead. However, there are a few small, brackish pools that could be used in a pinch with a good filter. The trail is exposed along the ridgeline between FS 2054 and Thirteenmile Mountain, offering amazing views of the surrounding terrain but also offering no respite from rain, wind, and sun. I was fortunate enough to see a beautiful lone gray wolf just west of Thirteenmile Mountain. We were separated by about 150 yards and watched each other curiously for a minute before it continued north and down the ridge. The wildflowers were beautiful. 

A lovely well maintained trail starting in forested gorge with towering basalt walls and gently climbing through open ponderosa pine and doug fir forest to meadows and parkland and vista. Quite peaceful and tranquil and welcoming.
The diversity of flowers was impressive - more than 20 types. Good amount of phlox, shooting star, larkspur. Also balsam arrowroot, camas, false Salomon seal, Oregon grape, prairie star, clematis, butter cup, desert parsley, ball head waterleaf, service berry, violets, hooker's fairy bells and more.
Three streams running early on, then dry. A very few mosquitoes towards late afternoon.

I hiked from the eastern terminus of this trail on the Hall Ck Rd side to the saddle between Seventeenmile Mtn and Fire Mtn for a summit hike of Seventeenmile. The trail is in good shape and the road is not bad if you have a little clearance. This is a section of The PNT but looks to get little use at this end.

Once at the saddle, I left the maintained trail and began towards the summit in fairly open terrain where I encountered tell-tale cut logs and cairns marking an old trail. I followed it until it began dropping down a drainage away from the intended destination. From there the going gets tough with about 1 mile and 1000 vertical ft of bushwhacking through sections of deadfall interspersed with slabby areas that give occasional respite. Near the top is particularly bad with many small diameter trees piled in jackstraw fashion. 

The summit views are good and this is a nice place to recharge before dropping back into the bush. 

7.1 miles RT and 2245' gain. 

Hiked the full length of this trail, from Highway 21 to Hall Creek Rd. and back as a one night trip. I think that this page saying the trail is well-maintained is a bit misleading. There were signs of recent maintenance and parts of it are easy to follow, but other parts are definitely overgrown and not as easily seen. There were sections through some of the meadows where the trail was just a slightly more indented line through the grass. Not impossible to see, but not easy either, and enough to confuse me a few times. Also, there was a big mess of downed trees across the trail about 2 miles before Hall Creek Rd. that required some navigating to get around. 

You do cross a couple dirt roads. The first one after the highway, cross over the road and there's a sign a little ways down. The second one, you actually almost do a 180, follow the two-track road for a tiny bit, and then it turns into trail. 

If you're looking for views, they're almost all in the first half or so starting from Highway 21. The second half leading to Hall Creek is mainly through forest. 

I did see bear poop as well as a deer and a rattlesnake (by a stream!) so be careful and watch for snakes. There were several streams to filter water, but I'd recommend bringing more than you think you need. It was hot when I hiked here, and I ended up getting pretty dehydrated. 

Only ran into one group of three ladies who kindly gave me some water and electrolytes (Laurie, Nancy, and Michael, if you're reading this, thanks again for saving my butt!). 

Overall, this was a nice hike. For almost all of it I didn't see any lights, people, or cell phone towers...just wilderness! 

Note: Gaia GPS has the trail in the wrong spot for some of it. Just follow the actual trail and you should be OK.