Road to maverick saddle is clear and in good shape. The trail upriver, however, is not. In spite of the Entiat Ranger's advice , the trail beyond the first bridge was about 60% snow covered with 1-3 feet of hard-pack. Minor deadfall present.Turned around after 4 miles, so its conceivable that snow coverage dissipated in the higher meadows, but can not verify.

I first visited Mad River 20 years ago, before the Forest Service created a motocross out of the area. I had heard reports of the amount of NOVA funds put into the trails and wanted to see it for myself. I considered it a shame that such a fine area had been delegated a race course for loud, smelly machines. Still, since Bobbie and I were heading in on a weekday after Labor Day, we hoped to miss most of the commotion. Despite its new status, Mad River is as charming an area that I've ever been to in some 20 years of hiking. It's kind of like a more wild version of Tiger Mountain, a minature wilderness. Despite the noise during the weekends, a huge wildlife population thrives in the area. There's been sightings of grizzly and wolves in the area. We came in on the Upper Mad River Trail, which starts from Maverick Saddle. The road to the Saddle is airy, steep and narrow. The trail first crosses the ""river"" on a wide bridge and slowly gains elevation following the canyon. After about 4 miles, the trail fords the creek and the loops begin. We decided to stay at Blue Creek, near the old Guard Station. The next day, we hiked up to Cougar Mountain, an old lookout site, with 360 degree views. Some smoke was still rising from the Rex Creek fire near Lake Chelan. I also enjoyed tracing a portion of my Chiwaukum Mountain trip as I found Cape Horn and Big Jim Mountain on the southern horizon. On the third day, we hiked up to Mad Lake, a lovely green-blue lake that sits in a wide golden meadow. We set up the tent in a horsey camp and created a branch barricade to ward off motorcylists who might be visiting the area. Sure enough, we had 15 visitors throughout the day, including one of the local sheriffs who performs ORV education and monitoring on weekends. It was quite a different experience to talk with these armored folks, but most were very friendly and impressed that we had walked in so far (8 miles!). The weather was perfect for the trip and we met fewer motorcylists than anticipated. If you want to avoid the machines altogether, go before July 15 or when the trails dry out. The sheriff said the season for motorcyles will be ending soon after about two weeks of frost. Temperatures at night were getting cold; we had 32 degrees F for two nights and frost on the meadows. Bugs were no longer a problem. If you plan to go this fall, check on the hunting seasons. We did see one bear hunter on our trip. And yes, the trails are in good condition, although dusty in softer sections. There seems to be quite an ongoing construction project in the area. The area was perfect for easy walking and meadow watching. I definitely would visit it again to explore some more of the local summits and lakes.

It was time to explore new lands, and this day took me to the Lake Wenatchee area and out to the Mavarick Saddle trailhead to explore regions up the Mad River. Still no motorized use allowed, so that wasn't an issue. But it's such a beautiful area that I'd hope people keep it in mind for weekday hikes all summer. I met up with a new friend who I was hoping to meet on the trail, and we spent the rest of the day completing the journey together. Great fun. The Mad River Trail is fast for hiking too since there are no roots and rocks. The hike up Jimmy Creek to Cougar Mountain was excellent and peaceful in any season...meadows of shooting star, lunia, bluebells. Ridge at top as you access final stomp up Cougar Mountain is open with views galore, as it is a silver snag dead forest from an old fire. Top notch views were had at the old lookout site atop Cougar Mountain: Glacier Peak, Entiat Mountains, Stuart Range, and all peaks in the Icicle Creek region. Whistling Pig Meadows and Cougar Meadows were beautiful! From there, we headed back down and took the dashed-line trail off of Jimmy Creek, #1420 I believe, and managed to completely get off the trail on the 6348' knob in open meadows. We ended up decending 500 of the 1400 feet offtrail through steep open forest and mild brush. We kept trying to move more NW and sure enough, we regained the trail again for a major triumph, then VERY steep decent back to the Mad River Trail and a fast hour out the 3.2 miles to the trailhead. The only folks seen were a couple heading in as we were coming out. Very lonely and beautiful country back in there!

One of the ""100 Classic Hikes"" in Washington, and deservedly so, but in ways I still haven't settled on. The upper Mad River trail is closed to motorcycles until the snow melts and the trail dries out. A stout minature road-gate not far down the trail assures you of this for now. If you survive the last two miles of the approach road (as desribed, steep, rough, and scenic - but still doable in a sturdy family car) you'll top out in a parking area still a short distance from the trailhead. Either park here and walk or continue on, down the other side of the hill .3 or so miles. Hiking in, first above then next to the river, black lichen on the rocks give the water a salt and pepper look. Tough spruce trees grow straight up to definite points. The river churns and surges and bends in half-circles down the slot valley. Note the extensive (and expensive') use of concrete tread along all the steepest hills. The bikers basically get a road bed built for them with these honeycombs of concrete. There are two fords of the river. The trails ranger for the district, very nice and helpful, mentioned that a way trail continues on the east side of the river, avoiding the first ford. We didn't see this, but at ford #1 we found a log crossing about 25feet further on. Crossing #2 was made nervously on various logs and rocks (with heavy packs.) The river was not hugely deep nor wide but ran very fast and even the first log crossing was intimidating to us, with the river racing about a foot below the log, dragging away the tips of our trusty hiking staffs. We aimed at the area specifically named ""Blue Creek Meadow"" on the Green Tails map. This area turned out to be only partway to the real meadow, which was beautiful, large and inviting. The camping area is at the far north end of this meadow back in the spindly trees, near the rather junky guard station. Close up the meadow is a wetland paradise - full of frogs and millions of small wildflowers, moss, and a surrounding collar of tiny krummholtz fir or spruce. The river, now a creek, winds through this meadow and small ponds sit peacefully here and there. Tributaries from these ponds flow to the river and have carved out actual caves of water beneath the overhanging meadow floor. A soft grey fish swam about in one of these caves and upon seeing me sunk down to the dark five foot depths. Five million mosquitoes commenced to feast on our bodies. We were bitten, snipped, cut into, torn up, clobbered, pestered, picketed, badgered and finally beaten into submission buy these hungry insects. Layers of clothing and a few breezes helped, but in the end it was only the tent and cold evening air that freed us from the swarm. Following day we hiked to Mad lake. The lake sits quietly and ripples in a lovely fashion. Unlike much of the surrounding forest the setting is open and airy. A big chunky picnic table waited with a little pile of tin can trash next to it, quite an unusual eyesore. After a lunch of mashed potatoes, we packed out and had we not already lost several pints of blood we would have taken the Lost Lake trail out along the ridge top to make a very big loop. I found this area to be beautful in an understated way. I firmly believe that motorcycles do not belong here at all. The meadow is very fragile - yet there are two big bike tracks cutting directly across it, nowhere near the actual trail. I guess I would ask, why encourage user groups that may be inappropriate for alpine areas by giving them specially engineered trails leading up to those areas'