This was one of the best backpacking trips I've ever done!
We started at June Lake trailhead and went clockwise (highly recommend this direction). We left our car at 9:00 am Thursday morning. The hike up to June Lake is fairly flat, followed by a steep section up to the Loowit trail after the lake. The Loowit trail was easy to follow all around the mountain. Trail markers are a mix of cairns and wooden posts (and sometimes PVC pipes). The first day was a mix of forest hiking, meadows, and medium-sized rocks to step on. I forget exactly where the gully was, but we crossed a large gully a mile or so (?) before Sheep Canyon trail. There was rope on both sides of the gully, which really helped.
We took the turn for Sheep Canyon trail- highly recommend- rather than staying on the Loowit trail. There is a great water source where the Sheep Canyon trail meets up with trail 238. First we crossed a small stream, but right after it was a good sized stream for collecting water. We then crossed a long, well established bridge and continued on trail 216 to the Toutle River. We got to the Toutle around 5pm. There are a few campsites (3-4 sites) above the river, and we saw a few people camp along the river.
The next day we left camp around 8:30 am. We filled up some water at the Toutle and then started hiking out. The water level was easy to cross on the Toutle. And there is rope on both sides of the gully so it's easy to get down and up. After getting up the other side, it's a steady uphill to the top of the ridge above the Toutle. Beautiful views of St Helens. Once we got to the ridge, it was gorgeous meadows hiking. The wildflowers were gorgeous. We also saw some elk in the distance.
There is a great spring within a mile after the Loowit Falls trail. The water is coming right out of the mountain, right over the trail (you can't miss it). We then decided to take trail 216 E and the Abraham trail, rather than go over Windy Pass. Abraham Trail is steep at the start, but you are rewarded with beautiful views of Rainier and Adams. We arrived at Pumice Butte around 5:00 pm. There are a few campsites after you cross over the stream. The water source was cloudy during the day, but much clearer in the early morning (we weren't sure why- maybe the wind blew a lot of fines into the water during the day?).
We woke up early on Saturday to catch the sunrise, so we were out of camp at 7:30. We saw a (HUGE) lone mountain goat within the first mile. There were some big gullies to cross on this final stretch, but no ropes. The terrain didn't necessitate rope, you just need to go slow. There is a water source just before the junction with June Lake that you could hike down to if you need to refill. We got back to our car at noon.
The huckleberries around and above June Lake were just starting to ripen. They'll be great in a week or two.
Amazing trip. I'd recommend 3 days, 2 nights and going clockwise.
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