Trip Report
North Fork Sauk River, North Fork Sauk Falls & Harold Engles Memorial Cedars — Friday, Aug. 29, 2014
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
Access: The Mountain Loop Highway from Barlow Pass to Forest Road 49 is mostly smooth, but has a few potholes. Forest Road 49 is riddled with potholes, some fairly sizeable, so drive with caution.
Trail Conditions: I hiked the trail as far as Mackinaw Shelter and the trail is in good shape overall. There are a few very small, shallow streams to cross which pose no problems. Red Creek has a sturdy bridge over it, so crossing is not a problem. A couple spots were a bit muddy. There was one large tree (about 4 feet in diameter) across the trail requiring a scramble around on the downhill side; however, a couple Forest Service employees were heading in on my way out to take care of it.
Flora and Fauna: Huge cedar and Douglas Fir line the trail. Foamflower is still blooming in the forest, and a couple of the more open, brushy areas of the trails have a few flowers still blooming (fireweed, pearly everlasting, even a couple of a paintbrush). A variety of mushrooms lined the trail.
Views: This isn't the hike for big mountain views. On a sunny day there are a couple places where Sloan makes an appearance, but it was obscured by clouds today.
Harold Engles Memorial Cedars Trail: The trail is in decent shape, but a bit overgrown.
North Fork Sauk Falls: The trail is in good shape with a series of switchbacks and stairs leading down to the falls. The rocks at the bottom can be slick.
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