r/PNWhiking • u/mandy_lou_who • 5d ago
Where would you go? 4 free days, 40-50 mile trip
Hey there! I’ve got a 4 day weekend coming up and I’m looking for a solo backpacking route. I’m in Spokane, hoping to head west and I’m NOT looking for solitude (I prefer busier trails/routes). Not worried about how far I’d need to drive.
I’d originally settled on the Timberline Trail but I’m a shorty and fording the rivers alone makes me an anxious mess. My backup was White Pass to Chinook Pass on the PCT but it’s now closed due to fire (I’ve done all of the PCT south of White Pass already). I’ve been scouring WTA and AllTrails and I just can’t really say I’ve found what I’m looking for. I’m willing to try and grab a permit if needed. Would love a suggestion!
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u/FishScrumptious 5d ago
Timberline this time of year is likely fine - I'm also short and it wasn't even fording, just rock hopping.
But if I had four days, I'd be doing Dutch Miller Gap.
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u/pilgrimspeaches 4d ago
Would you suggest doing it from Snoqualmie Middle Fork or Waptus Lake?
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u/FishScrumptious 4d ago
I would do it from MFK Snoq, but that's because of where I live relative to the TH and MFK Snoq is one of my favorite places in the state.
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u/pilgrimspeaches 4d ago
Cool. Thank you. How's the road out past the bridge/turnoff? I haven't driven it in a few years but remember it being not great.
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u/FishScrumptious 4d ago
I haven't gone past the MFK Snoq trailhead in nearly 20 years. I hiked DMG a week before they permanently closed the Dingford Gate that continued another 5.5 miles on to Goldmeyer and another two onto the DMG TH. I remember the whole thing being awful, and had bruises on my hips for a week from the seatbelt....
Trip reports are all pretty much the "worst road in WA" or "the road is exactly what you expect", so I've always planned to just do the road walk. Recent trip reports suggest the south side of the river (MFK Snoq Trail) is pretty brushy, which lines up with my experience of it just west of that point this year, but I'd probably still walk that side over the really crappy FS road. It'll take you ~1hr to go the 6ish miles anyway, so you're not saving a lot of time by driving. (Just saving your suspension...)
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u/TheThird_Man 4d ago
Was just out on the timberline last weekend, every water crossing was passable without getting feet wet, and there are so many people on the trail, you’d never wait more than 10 minutes at a crossing to wait for others
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u/PikaGoesMeepMeep 3d ago
As a short person, I love hiking the timberline trail this time of year. The snow's all gone so the water levels are lower. And there are plenty of other hikers, so I usually wait at a crossing until someone else arrives and ask them to spot me until I'm safely across.
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u/BinderPensive 5d ago
I was going to suggest the Spider Gap - Buck Creek Pass Loop, but that appears to be closed due to the Pomas Fire.
Another option is Devil's Dome Loop. See recent trip reports regarding water and brush.
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u/HikeIntoTheSun 4d ago
Where havnt you gone? Wallowas? ONP? North Cascades?
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u/mandy_lou_who 4d ago
I’ve done a little bit in a lot of places. Day hikes in the N. Cascades and Mt. Rainier NP, I’ve done the PCT up through White Pass (so I’ve done Goat Rocks), and I’ve done some day hiking and backpacking in ONP. The vast majority of my backpacking has been along the PCT.
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u/HikeIntoTheSun 4d ago
ONP is magical for a complete different pac nw experience. You can do the forest or the coast.
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u/HikeIntoTheSun 4d ago
Timberline rivers are not that big of a deal this time of year. I did it 2 weeks ago. There are rocks and logs that help.
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u/Diligent_Can9752 4d ago
I'm 5'3" and did the timberline solo 2 years ago right around this time of year and the rivers were really not that bad! And there's so many people doing the trail or day hikes you don't have to be alone at all if you don't want to.
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u/GibbonEnthusiast82 5d ago
Timberline trail, in my experience, should be busy enough that you could wait for someone else to walk up before you crossed. Last September I only recall one tricky crossing that would be hard for a short hiker. Even then, it’s just a matter of not getting wet rather than risking your life.
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u/CaptPeleg 4d ago
The 3 Sisters loop trail is awesome. 45-50 easy miles. Start at pole creek. St helens loop (the Loowit trail) is 30 rugged miles. Its amazing. My fav for sure.
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u/Ok-Comedian8160 3d ago
You could consider the Northern Loop at Mount Rainier. It might be a bit too solitude-y for what you’re looking for, but adding it to the mix since no one has mentioned it and imo it’s an underrated gem
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u/PikaGoesMeepMeep 3d ago
I would have recommended the loop around the Three Sisters, but the smoke situation is on & off bad there right now. If you catch a smoke free window, it's a lovely 50mi loop. Need to grab permits online. You can do a lollipop from Mckenzie pass by cutting through between Middle and South Sister by Chambers lakes, there's an obvious user trail from near Reese Lake to Camp Lake. That cuts off most of the eastern fireburned area.
No major river fords, and usually plenty of other hikers. Part of the loop is on the PCT.
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u/mandy_lou_who 3d ago
I need to look at a smoke map before I go. Seems like it might be bad everywhere right now. 😕
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u/pilgrimspeaches 5d ago
Grand Loop in the Olympics would be good if you can find a spot in the grand valley (or hike up the pass and out on day 1).