Crowell Ridge, North Fork Sullivan Creek & Red Bluff — Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009

Eastern Washington > Selkirk Range

I did this trip as part of a work party organized by Conservation Northwest. We arrived Saturday morning and organized a shuttle so that we would only have to hike the trail one-way, but this could also be done as an out-and-back trip from either trail head. We left our shuttle vehicle at the Red Bluff TH. This trail head is only 1/4 mile east of the Mill Pond Campground and it has paved access, although the parking is limited (3-4 vehicles). We then drove our other vehicles to our starting point at Sullivan Mountain (road 245, which is very rocky and not recommended for low-clearance vehicles). We started our trip by hiking out Crowell Ridge to the intersection with the North Fork trail. This portion of the trail is 4.1 miles. There are no water sources along this section of the trail, but the views are spectacular and the huckleberries are ripe right now. The North Fork trail was main focus of our trailwork, as this trail had not been cleared in at least four years. We cleared all downfall and brushed out the worst sections. There is a small campsite with easy access to water 3.1 miles from the Crowell Ridge trail. Beyond this point there are no reliable water sources on the trail. On the second day of our trailwork party we moved camp to the North Fork of Sullivan Creek. This is next reliable water source, located .9 miles from the intersection with the North Fork trail. From here it is only 4.4 miles to the Red Bluff trailhead This hike really allows visitors to see all that the Salmo Priest Wilderness has to offer. The Crowell Ridge section starts high and has 360 degree views. Hikers can see nearby Gypsy Peak (the tallest peak in Eastern Washington at 7,309') -- in fact, it is an easy day hike / scramble to the summit from Crowell Ridge. Hikers can also see Abercrombie and Hooknose Mountains, the Shedroof Divide, and north into Canada. The North Fork trail becomes more and more heavily treed as one descends. The upper portions of the trail are park-like as the trees are well spaced and bear grass carpets the ground. The lower portions of the trail, and continuing out to the Red Bluff trail, have amazing cedar stands.