Green Trails Map No. 144 Benchmark
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The Meadow Creek Trail looks like a good hike, for people wanting to take a short jaunt on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Going east on Highway 2 from Monroe, once in Skykomish turn left (north) on Beckler River Road no. 65. Follow this 7 miles, and then turn right, and go 4 more miles on Rapid River Road no. 6530. This will take you to the Meadow Creek trailhead (trail no. 1057), starting at an elevation of 2100 feet.
Back in 1967 a forest fire burned the area, and there is still a lot of evidence of that. From there, the trail gains 1000 feet in elevation, climbing out of the valley in a number of switchbacks. 3 miles distance, the trail crosses Meadow Creek, and then 3/4 of a mile further it climbs sharply into West Cady Creek. Finally, at 6.5 miles it reaches the lower of the two Fortune Ponds, and intersects with the Pacific Crest Trail at 4700 feet elevation.
At this point, you're in a good position for a walk on the Pacific Crest Trail. If you follow the trail 1.25 miles, you'll cross 5200 foot Frozen Finger Pass between West Cady Creek and Rapid River. Once over, this drops down to Pear Lake at 4809 feet, and a total of only 8 miles from where you parked the car, at the Meadow Creek trailhead.
-----
The Meadow Creek Trail looks like a good hike, for people wanting to take a short jaunt on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Going east on Highway 2 from Monroe, once in Skykomish turn left (north) on Beckler River Road no. 65. Follow this 7 miles, and then turn right, and go 4 more miles on Rapid River Road no. 6530. This will take you to the Meadow Creek trailhead (trail no. 1057), starting at an elevation of 2100 feet.
Back in 1967 a forest fire burned the area, and there is still a lot of evidence of that. From there, the trail gains 1000 feet in elevation, climbing out of the valley in a number of switchbacks. 3 miles distance, the trail crosses Meadow Creek, and then 3/4 of a mile further it climbs sharply into West Cady Creek. Finally, at 6.5 miles it reaches the lower of the two Fortune Ponds, and intersects with the Pacific Crest Trail at 4700 feet elevation.
At this point, you're in a good position for a walk on the Pacific Crest Trail. If you follow the trail 1.25 miles, you'll cross 5200 foot Frozen Finger Pass between West Cady Creek and Rapid River. Once over, this drops down to Pear Lake at 4809 feet, and a total of only 8 miles from where you parked the car, at the Meadow Creek trailhead.
