We started our trip at around 11am from the Deer Park Trailhead heading in a counterclockwise direction. Once you hit the park boundary the road narrows to a single lane with some added width for cars to pass. The road is dirt/gravel and climbs quickly with a steep drop on the passenger side when ascending. It’s in remarkable shape with almost no pot holes for the 8 miles. The grand ridge trailhead is near the ranger station while the three forks trail is about a 10-15 minute walk within the Deer Park campground. No water access that I saw at Deer Park. 

The grand ridge trail briefly descends from Deer Park before steeply ascending again. The expansive views aren’t reached until the 2-2.5 mile mark. The remainder of the trail are remarkable views until observation point.  There is no water access on the ridge, nor is the water access at observation point. There were still 3 small snow fields 100-200 yards from observation point. They were easy to cross with hiking poles. The snow fields are likely melted out with the heat this week. 

Lillian ridge trail also had remarkable views in all directions. It briefly ascends steeply to the south, reaching about 6400ft, before descending 1200ft to the junction with trail to grand lake. We stayed at Moose lake for the night. The bugs were frustrating as well as the deer. Keep your camp tidy as the deer like to lick/nibble at anything with sweat/salt (socks, flip flops. Straps on hiking poles). 

Grand pass trail crossed a few small fields of snow. The snow fields were easy with hiking poles. No need for microspikes. The views from the top were amazing and the trail was in great condition. The trail down to Cameron creek was very steep and difficult to follow in one section due to a large snow field. The trail essentially runs straight through the snowfield down the hill. 

The upper part of the Cameron creek trail was over grown, but overall fairly easy to follow. A few water crossings may leave you with some wet feet. One crossing had snow that was undercut by the stream on either side of the creek. Upper Cameron camp has many camp spots spread around the basin with excellent water access. Bugs were worse here than at moose lake. Once camp was set up I ascended to the pass before evening. This was a 1100ft climb in 1.5 miles from the basin. The climb was very steep in places with some loose rocks. Trail was snow free until about 200ft below the pass. Snow was soft and steps were easy to kick in. No microspikes required. Stayed to the right of the trail to ascend. When I returned to Cameron basin I used my kicked in steps to descend. The next day we again used my kicked in steps to make the ascent again. 

The lost pass trail was in fairly good condition to the pass. After the pass the trail descends sharply to the Dose. The Dose trail to the gray wolf pass trail is very overgrown. Only a few fallen trees to cross. No difficulty  with route finding. 

The ascent to Gray Wolf pass was about 2500ft in the trees. Excellent views as you ascend higher. The closer to the pass we got the more the wind increased. At the top evening was setting in and the wind gusts were very strong. 100-200ft from the top there was a steep snowfield. We chose to go over it in the talus. Another snowfield was across the trail at little further. We also avoided this field, sliding down the talus instead. Out of all the passes the Gray Wolf had the most. We camped in the gray wolf basin that night. Bugs were less of a problem then other two camps. 

Upper gray wolf trail was in excellent condition. Only on tree to cross after Falls camp. Beautiful trail. The ascent on the three forks was long and constant. Over 3000ft. But the trail is in good shape. Does have some loose rocks in the fire zone. 

This loop is a amazing trip. Excellent views much of the way. 

Started off from Deer Park on July 2 with the intention to head to Grand Valley, go over Grand Pass, and loop back to Deer Park via Cameron Creek and Three Forks. However, we knew we might need a backup plan depending on snow levels and were prepared to turn around if needed.

Beautiful views from Grand Ridge and plenty of day hikers. There was intermittent snow to cross in the first few miles of Grand Ridge, but decided to turn back at the four mile mark (just past Roaring Winds) because of a steep snowfield and significant exposure (and we could see there was plenty of snow at Grand Pass so our loop plan would probably be a no go). We saw several trail runners cross this snowfield, but we didn't feel up for it with full packs and knowing we'd likely have to cross it again the next day in the rain. 

Headed back to Deer Park and down to Three Forks for the night. Three Forks was a nice site with a little more open space than the riverside camps usually have. The next day, we set off on a day hike up the Graywolf river. The trail is in great shape thanks to the trail crews!! Did not have to step over a single blowdown all the way up to Falls Camp. It was sunny for about 5 minutes and then the rain began.

Hit patches of snow at 5100 feet and snow began in earnest at 5200 feet. We adventured up a little further using microspikes to 5400. Still wintery beyond this point (at least for north facing slopes!). We hiked back to Three Forks, our day hike clocking in at 17 miles. It was raining so we made dinner in the Three Forks shelter. The next morning, we got up at 5am and started hiking back up to Deer Park. The morning light and clouds were beautiful! Made it back to Seattle by 12:30pm.

Great trip, especially for being a backup plan! 

Hiked from Deer Park down to Gray Wolf Camp with a WTA work party.

Deer Park Road had just been opened the night before, so it was absolutely pristine. This section of trail still had one massive blowdown that the crew was going to take out the next day, but was otherwise smooth sailing. The grade of this trail is incredibly consistent. On the way back up, this felt unrelenting. The only unexposed section is at the top, across the meadows at Deer Park and then across some rock. On a (relatively) warm day yesterday, it was still a hot hike up.

Three Forks and Gray Wolf camps look in fine shape, and the foot log crossings are great. 

The road to the trailhead was the usual bouquet of potholes.  A couple of miles before reaching the trailhead, we surprised a black bear on the road.  It bolted down the road at an impressive pace before eventually veering off into the forest.

We hiked a 17-mile loop, down Slab Camp Trail, up Gray Wolf to Three Forks Camp, then up the Three Forks Trail to Deer Park, and down Deer Ridge to the trailhead.  We started at 8 a.m. and finished at 6:30 p.m., and didn't see another soul the whole day.  

Slab Camp Trail was in good shape all the way down to the Gray Wolf River, thanks to the work of the Gray Wolf Trail Crew, which has cleared the trail of blowdowns.  The Gray Wolf Trail from the bridge up to Three Forks was in much worse shape.  There was a lot of mud in the lower reaches, and there were about two dozen blowdowns, several of which required crawling under.

The three footlogs over the Gray Wolf, Cameron Creek, and Grand Creek were in good shape.  Gray Wolf Camp and Three Forks Camp were in good shape.  Shortly above Three Forks Shelter, a massive blowdown blocks the trail, and the only way past it is to squeeze under the log with pack off.  From there to Deer Park, there were a few minor step-over blowdowns.

There was no snow at Deer Park.  Wildflowers were starting to emerge in the meadows, dominated by grasswidows, and also some prairie smoke and Douglassia.  Deer Ridge Trail was in good shape, with just a few minor step-over blowdowns.  The trail was brushed out last fall by Gray Wolf Trail Crew.