We did Observation Peak via the Observation Trail 132 from the Trapper Creek TH up and back rather than looping. Got there at 7am and left just before noon and there was plenty of parking. Trail was easy to find and navigate, some overgrowth at parts of the trail, and some of the trail starting to erode so it gets skinny in areas. Overall great hike and we had it practically to ourselves. Were able to see Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier, Mt Hood, and a fourth - maybe Adams? from Observation Peak. Clocked 12.8mi and 3,045 ft elevation gain on Apple Watch. 4h06m moving.

The trailhead is at the end of Forest Road 5401. Take Wind River Road off of SR 14. Around 14 miles, Wind River veers to the right, but you’ll stay straight onto Mineral Springs Road. About a .5 mile in, you’ll take a right on FR 5401. Follow this to the end where there is a large parking lot and a privy. There were 4 cars on a Sunday morning to start, 10 at my finish, and plenty of available parking. You will need a NW Forest Pass to park here.

The trailhead signage is good, directing you straight ahead for the Trapper Creek Trail. There are lots of options to take turnoffs or extend your hike into a loop, so it would be good to have a map of the area. Someone has left a few walking sticks at the trailhead sign for your use. The trail is mostly flat for the first .25 miles and then starts the uphill climb. For the most part, the climb is gradual, with only a few steep sections. The trail is open to horses until the first turnoff (Observation Trail) and there was evidence of recent horse travel. You’ll stick to the left at this turnoff to stay on the Tapper Creek Trail.

You’ll cross a dry creek initially and then cross a wet creek at about 1.5 miles. Here there is a turn off to Soda Peaks Lake. There is a great log just past the creek to sit on for a rest and to take in the forest. The trail is not particularly wide and narrows with some overgrowth in a few areas. There are rocks and roots to be navigated. Though I intended to take a longer hike, I stopped at about the 2.5 mile mark where the turnoffs were to Big Slide and the Deer cutoff, as it was quite warm. The signage is great on this trail, so I had no problem finding my way back.

The mixtures of trees includes firs, cedars, dogwood, and maples, big and small. The ground cover is not too high and mostly greenery, with just a few wildflowers. The trail is mostly shaded, but there are times where the sun peaks through the canopy. I saw many squirrels and heard some birds. Despite the warnings signs regarding past fires, I saw little fire damage. I saw two groups of people during the morning, but the trail was otherwise empty.

I really enjoyed the Trapper Creek trail and would like to hike it further when the weather is cooler.

TH off FR5401, well signed

#192 Trapper Creek to #132 Observation Peak  to #132A Peak back to #132 and camp at junction of #192 and #158, Berry Camp.

#132 is in excellent shape first 3 miles to the last creek. Thereafter it hits patchy burned areas from the 2020 fire. The trail in the burned areas is vegetated and starting to degrade. Looks markedly less used. Still the trail is mostly in the big, old growth and shaded. We dropped packs at #132A and went up to the peak. There is also a boot trail to the lesser peak with views. Continue to the main peak for more views of Helens, Rainier, Hood, and Adams. Flowers are out in force.  Back down to #132 and continued to junction of #192 and #158. Berry Camp is in the dry woods with space for 3 tents. The spring just a few 100 feet further on #158 has an old pipe with water running out. Probably the water source for the old lookout.

Day 2:

#158 to #194 Dry Creek. Camp along Dry Creek.

#158 Big Hollow starts out through more beautiful old growth, hits a small shallow stream and then is in the 2020 burn until hitting Dry Creek, #194. Trail is exposed and hot with no water until Dry Creek. Very vegetated with brambles across the trail which will trip you up if you aren’t watching your step. It is not clear of treefall, but passable for hikers. Doesn’t appear to be maintained. In 5 years will not be passable if the USFS doesn’t start maintaining it.

Stopped at Dry Creek and waded through the vegetation to the creek to cool off in the nice pools then continued on #194 through more burn for a bit. From the first wooden foot bridge, the trail has been cleared of most of the windfall and is out of the burn. We found a nice sandbar to camp on about 2 miles from the TH.

Day 3: #194 out to TH.

Plans to head up to Rainier were dashed by the Goat Rocks fire and related road closures. Plan B -Mt St Helens also a no-go due to the Kalama fire. We had to get out so we headed East to the Trapper Creek wilderness and did a couple of quiet forest hikes. 1- Trapper Creek 2- Falls Creek trail 152.  The sections of trail we did were in good shape.  It appeared there had been some recent brushing on both trails. 

We had Trapper Creek to ourselves. A couple was heading in just as we reached the trailhead.  After a drive up to Oldman Pass we returned back down for hike 2- Falls Creek.

Although there were several cars 15 at the Falls Creek Falls TH, we took the trail away from the falls, and aside from a group of 4 mountain bikers we saw no one, except for a blonde wooly.  A quiet day in the forest, it was overcast and still, with some haze but no smokey smell.

This was our second attempt at this loop after the Big Hollow Fire. Trapper Creek trail is in fine shape and the lower part of Big Slide and Observation Peak are also fine. However, the upper reaches of Big Slide and Observation Peak in the fire damaged zone are in very poor shape. We encountered loose rock and dirt, fallen trees and uprooted stumps along with eroded and very narrow trail remains with overgrown under growth. It's a shame the forest service has not done more (or anything?) to rehabilitate these trails. This would be an excellent location for rehabilitation work by WTA.