O'Neil Pass, LaCrosse Basin & Enchanted Valley via East Fork Quinault River — Tuesday, Jul. 28, 2020

Spectacular multi-night backpack to Enchanted Valley and the LaCrosse Basin. Staying at Pyrite's Creek both directions was the perfect distance, as was camping in one of two spots in White Creek Meadows, just .7 miles up the O'Neill Pass Trail from the junction with the E Fork Quinault River Trail. The main trail has a few minor blowdowns the few miles before and after Enchanted Valley, but nothing major. The O'Neill Pass Trail heading from White Creek Meadows towards O'Neill Pass is somewhat overgrown, but still not bad. To save time and distance we took the Hart Lake Way Trail up over the ridge top. There is a trail, but for those of you using Gaia, the app consistently shows the trail about 100 yards south (further towards O'Neill Pass) than the actual route. Look for two large cairns on the O'Neill Pass Trail to start you up the Hart Pass Way Trail. There is a boot track and actual trail, though as you get higher it's rather overgrown, and my arms have a few battle scars to prove it! It's very steep, gaining 900 feet in .4 miles, but did save almost five miles getting into the lakes basin. We had the entire basin to ourselves, and took a dip in both Hart Lake and Lake LaCrosse. Wildflowers were probably 1-2 weeks shy of prime. We did see a mama bear and a cub between those two lakes. A final word to the wise: Fisher's Notch is not an acceptable shortcut, is incredibly steep, and unmarked from the O'Neill Pass Trail. The Hart Lake Way Trail is the much better shortcut into the basin from the north side, but if you decide to take the O'Neill Pass Trail all the way around over the pass to Marmot Lake and then up be prepared for significant travel times and increased distance, which may add to your day.