Little Ranger Peak via Ranger Creek — Friday, Jan. 28, 2005

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

After failing to find the trailhead for Noble Knob off Forest Road 72, we gave up on the checkerboard mess of roads and went on down highway 410. We turned off at Buck Creek on the right and parked in the muddy lot across the bridge. Then we crossed the road to hike up the bank to Ranger Creek Trail. The forest was surprisingly beautiful, and the trail was in excellent shape. We encountered a couple of nice mountain bikers, but otherwise we had plenty of solitude. We stopped for lunch at Little Ranger Peak and watched the clouds roll in. You couldn't ask for a nicer, low key, winter hike.