Carbon River to Ipsut Falls, Carbon Glacier — Friday, Apr. 11, 2025

This hike is no longer accessible as of April 14, 2025 due to the indefinite closure of the Fairfax bridge on the route to the trailhead.  Check the park website and WSDOT website for updates.

Returned to an old favorite for an early season 2 night trip.  On day one we hiked from the Carbon River park entrance to the Ipsut Creek Campground on the abandoned road.  The road was in great condition and we saw several folks on bikes riding it.  On our way to the campground we did the 1.8 mile hike up to Green Lake and the short jaunt across the river to see Chenuis Falls.   Both side trips were on very well maintained trails.  Just past the campground is short trail to Ipsut falls which is pretty but the trail is pretty rough as you approach the falls.

Ipsut Creek Campground got hit hard by the bomb cyclone last November.  Thankfully a crew of hard-working volunteers have done an amazing job cutting up fallen trees and removing tree debris from the campground.  I joked with my camping buddy that the campsites were so clean that they had been raked.  There is a picnic table and bear cabinet at each site.  I give the campground a 4 rake rating!  The old car campground (no cars allowed since 2006 road washout) was quiet with no other campers on the first night and two other parties on our second night.  A vault toilet with TP and hand sanitizer is available.  

We then joined the Wonderland Trail at the campground for a hike up to Carbon Glacier.  The trail was in very good condition with a small washout and a descent to the river crossing down a steep rocky section which trail crews had fashioned into rustic steps.  The trail up to the glacier and suspension bridge was in very good condition with a couple of small snow patches that were easily crossed.