Arch Rock, Maggie Creek & Greenwater and Echo Lakes — Saturday, Jul. 1, 2006

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

Dates of Trip: 7/1 - 7/2/06 Low snow levels are still keeping me from some of my favorite spots, so headed out during the long holiday weekend to the Arch Rock Loop (20 miles) in the South Cascades. Described as perhaps the ""loneliest loop in the South Cascades"" and that might be an understatement, especially for the 13 miles streatch leading to Echo Lake. Total elevation gain of 2,400' during the hike, so very gental slopes for the most part that allow for a quick pace. Some minor amounts of snow remaining on the first 1.5 miles of the PCT and lots of water on the trail, but for the most part the trail is dry. Just south of Arch Rock a meadow opens up that offers views of Rainier, as well as the Snoqualmie Pass area peaks and Mt. Stuart. A warning about the trail condition: once off the PCT 2000 and on Trail 1187 to Echo Lake, you hike through some meadows and the trail is very hard to follow. I couldn't keep track of the trail and bushwacked my way down the 3 miles to the lake along a drainage that ended up putting me on Trail 1176 (Greenwater) about 1 mile south of Echo Lake. So I it turned out I was following the wrong drainage even w/ a Green Trails map in hand. Special thanks to the group camping at Echo Lake that offered me some wine as I finally made it to my targeted first night camp!! Spent the night at Echo Lake where the mosquitoes were out in full force. Hiked the remaining 7 miles out late the next morning in 3.5 hours. Maggie Creek Trail 1186 also doesn't see very heavy traffic as the trail became thin in spots w/ many blow-downs. All water crossings were straightforward. All in all a nice hike w/ a minor adventure!! Happy hiking!! Peace, motsies