Suiattle River Trail — Friday, May. 11, 2001

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

We hiked up this fine forest-and-river hike about five miles. Trail condition excellent for hikers. A sign at the trailhead warns horesback riders about a blowdown 4 miles in. There is a downed tree about 4 miles in, but it is easy for hikers to get under. It would probably be difficult-to-impossible for a horse, however, and there is no good bypass (the trail is cut into a steep slope at that point). Scads of calypso orchids, trillium, bleeding heart, yellow violets, etc., a most impressive river full of glacial flour, lots of big trees, moss - most everything you could want in a valley hike. We did a quick reconnoiter on the Milk Creek trail. The creek about 1/4 miles past the Suiattle River bridge is running quite wide. Crossing it is not challenging, but you will likely get your feet wet.