Frog Mountain
5 days ago
Fall color is arriving and peaking
12 this month · 93 reports
Quartz Creek
Central Cascades
updated 1 month ago
The Quartz Creek Trail presents a significant challenge in its initial mile due to numerous large blowdowns and overgrown sections, making passage difficult. Reports from July 19 describe these obstacles as "enormous old growth blowdowns" requiring tough climbs over, under, and through, with the trail obliterated for many yards in several places. Beyond this initial stretch, the trail reportedly improves, although August 17 noted some large trees were still pending removal by forest service crews. Road access to the trailhead is complicated; the Index-Galena Road is closed at mile marker 10, and the road beyond the bridge is impassable according to a report from August 17, with other trailheads further north on FS-63 also experiencing blowdown issues.
Generated from 12 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Quartz Creek
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 1 month ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
No trip reports on this trail in 1 month, so everything below is at least that old.
The first mile of the Quartz Creek Trail is severely impacted by numerous enormous old growth blowdowns and thorny brush, making it very difficult to pass. July 19 stated that the trail was obliterated for many yards in several places due to fallen trees and required significant effort to navigate.
Beyond the initial mile, the trail generally improves. However, as of August 17, there were still a few large trees on the trail that had not been cleared, though the forest service planned to remove them with specialized equipment. July 19 also noted some blowdowns and rocky sections on parts of the trail after the first mile.
Road access to the Quartz Creek Trailhead is problematic. The Index-Galena Road is impassable past the bridge, with a washout reported. Additionally, FS-63, which leads to trailheads further north, has not been fully cleared of blowdowns, making bike access difficult.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Older1 month ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
General update for hikers accessing Blanca Lake and the Quartz Creek trailheads. I just completed a four day logging work party with members of the Skykomish Forest Service. Here is a summary of cur...
Older2 months ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
Access update:Based on previous trail reports I drove to the Index-Galena Rd. side, which is blocked at mile marker 10, which is 5 miles from the washed out North Fork Skykomish Bridge. I chose this b...
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
We did a big loop from North Fork Sauk up to White Pass, south on the PCT, then west on West Cady Ridge, connecting the Quartz Creek Trail and Bald Eagle Trail back to the car on FS 49 (Sauk River).Th...
Older12 months ago
Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
The Index-Galena road was in good shape, but the unpaved road had many large potholes and sharp rocks. Any vehicle should be able to make it with care. The pup and I started on the North Fork Skykomis...
Older16 months ago
Central Cascades
The road was typical forest service road, potholes in places. I made it up in my sedan. Once I got to the trailhead I started up the North fork Skykomish river trail and expected to make it farther up...
Older22 months ago
Central Cascades
5 of us old guys carpooled up the Index-Galena Road following alongside the scenic North Fork Skykomish 15 miles to a left turn on (unsigned) Forest Road 63. This is a very rough road with large poth...
Older24 months ago
Central Cascades
The hike description and photos from exactly one year ago fit the hike on this day, except for not mentioning the many amazing mushrooms of many varieties! This is a very beautiful hike through a won...
Older24 months ago
Central Cascades
Hiked 2 miles in, to a spot where the trail briefly touches Quartz Creek.Road Conditions.Drove in via the (paved) Index-Galena Rd. Some dips and bumps, watch out for rockfall on the last half mile bef...
Older24 months ago
Central Cascades
Got to the parking lot around 5:30pm on Friday. Hit the North Fork Skykomish Trail, at 6mi in there is a large camp, I called it a night there. The next site is 2.5mi 1400'+ further, wish I had known ...
Central Cascades
We hiked a two day loop: up West Cady trail to the PCT, then north to Lake Sally An, where we camped. The next day we hiked to the Bald Eagle Trail to Curry Gap, and back to the North Fork Skykomish T...