North Fork Sauk

The North Fork Sauk River drains a rugged, mountainous area between Glacier Peak and Monte Cristo Peak. Although many of its tributaries come off these peaks directly and start in glaciers, the main forks o the river do not. Another peculiar thing about the river is that the entire length is protected; either within a Wilderness Area or designated as a Wild and Scenic River. so there waters will always flow clear, cold, fast and free.

The trail itself is a classic riverside forest wander. Always near, sometimes in sight o the ribbon of liquid. Always deep withing mature old-growth conifer forest, except when traversing a few wide avalanche slopes full of bright green gardens of deciduous growth. There are a few stream crossings - either hopping on rocks from the small ones or via a footbridge on the big one.

There are 2 trails that branch off the N Fork Sauk. The first is a side-trip up Red Mountain, an old lookout site for fires in the upper reaches of the Sauk. The second is Pilot Ridge, which you have to cross the river (footlog existing and in good shape June 2024) before climbing 2,500 feet onto the ridgeline that makes the southern boundary to the river drainage.

We stopped at the site of the old Mackinaw Shelter, hiking 6 miles one-way. Any further and we would start climbing 3,000 of switchbacks in 3 miles to react the PCT at White and Red Passes. Too early in the season for that. So we were plenty content to sit and have lunch along the river.

#pnw #hiking #river #forest #oldgrowth #water #wilderness #GlacierPeakWilderness #wildflowers #spring #CouleeOutdoors

RATINGS

Accessibility 2
Difficulty 2.5
Enjoyment 3

Chapters
0:00 Intro
2:38 N Fk Sauk Trail
9:20 PIKA TIME
11:20 N Fk Sauk Trail
14:14 Western Toad
16:26 Stream Crossing
19:06 N FK Sauk Trail
23:32 Red Creek
25:46 Avalanche Chute
27:57 N Fk Sauk Trail
29:50 Avalanche Chute
35:45 Mackinaw Shelter
39:45 Avalanche Chute
45:31 N Fk Sauk Trail
48:27 Outro