If you are coming from Seattle area, get onto H-410 going south. It goes right into South Prairie. From Puyallup area, get on H-162 that ends in South Prairie also. The Trailhead is off of H-162 onto Rainier which is just west of the Fire Station. You go over the trail and take a right into the parking lot where there are 2 nice portapoties.
We used a map printed by the Foothills Rails-to-Trails coalition. The whole section we walked was nice and new asphalt and recently opened. There is an enlargement of part of the section of the trail that we found helpful but our GPS had different distances.
The first intersection was signed as Cascade Junction. The foot path to the right will eventually reach Wilkeson. The sign said the foot bridge is out over Gale Creek. Next is a short bridge over South Prairie Creek. Our mileage was 1.3 there. At 1.8 miles was a long curved bridge called Lower Burnett Bridge. At 2.0 miles we went over the short Spiketon Creek Bridge. Then started a long curve trail to the right. The map showed a bridge called Fema Bridge. We didn't see it! Later a local hiker told us that a huge tree in a windstorm destroyed the bridge. Now there is a huge (10-12 feet) culvert with a nice trail over the area. Not much of a creek below. The culvert is more noticeable on the way back. At 2.6 miles we crossed 268th Ave Ct E. That is at the farthest point of the curved trail. At 3.2 miles the trail looks down on the Spiketon Creek Bridge. Although we are only a few yards away, we are 320 feet above the other trail. Shortly after, we crossed under H-165 at 3.6 miles. There are 2 'snow sheds' at that point. The sheds keep the snow plows from throwing snow, ice and rocks on the trail (and hikers). It also keeps trash from cars from landing on the trail. From then on we were on a long, raised wooden trail. Beautiful workmanship with several pullouts for benches. The trail hugs the side of the hill where we saw several flower types (white Pioneer Violet!!) and ferns. The other side of the trail looks down on a small creek. At 4.5 miles there is a small parking lot (holds about 6 cars) by the trail and right on H-165. There is no signage. There are huge rocks to define the parking area, which we sat on for lunch. We then returned the way we came. Total elevation gain was 385 feet.
Our next hike will start at the Buckley Library parking lot (H-165, R on Main, R on South River Road to parking lot). The trail to the east ends in 1 mile at the White river where a pedestrian bridge needs to be built. Going back west the trail is close to H165 then crosses H-165 to go into the woods and back to the 'our lunch stop'.
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