Flat Creek Trail

Flat Creek Trail to West Fork is a remote out-and-back of about 6.6 miles round trip from the Upper Stehekin Valley Trail junction. It climbs gently through Flat Creek valley toward the West Fork ford, with about 500 feet of gain; allow roughly 3.5 hours for this trail section alone. The line shown stops just short of the creek, at the end of the reliable mapped tread; the crossing is about 3.3 miles from the junction. Beyond the ford, the trail continues roughly another 0.9 mile into brush before fading among cedars, but that faint extension is not mapped here.

There is no drive-up parking at this backcountry junction. Reach it on foot along the Upper Stehekin Valley Trail, the old Stehekin Valley Road. High Bridge is 8 miles away via Old Wagon Trail and the old road; the approaches from Cascade Pass and SR 20 via Bridge Creek are 13.4 and 15.4 miles. Count that access separately. This makes the most sense as a day hike if you are already staying in the upper Stehekin Valley.

The trail almost immediately crosses the Stehekin River on a bridge above a narrow bedrock gorge. Ice-age glaciers from the Stehekin and Flat Creek valleys met here and exposed the rock; the river has since cut its tight channel through it. Watch the rushing water for American dippers.

The first couple of miles cross the 2001 Flat Creek Fire area. Standing dead trunks and fireweed sit among living forest, open meadows and old cottonwoods. Peak 6062 rises sharply above the valley; the open meadow gives you the clearest look at its distinctive prow-like profile.

Near 3.3 miles, a stand of old-growth western red cedars makes a good pause before West Fork Flat Creek. The creek must be forded, and high spring snowmelt can make it impassable. Across it, the trail wanders through an old-growth floodplain; some cedars reach about six feet across. Farther on the tread narrows into brush beside the creek and eventually fades in a cedar stand. The route here turns around at the ford rather than guessing that last alignment.

After about two miles the trail leaves North Cascades National Park and enters Glacier Peak Wilderness. The forest section is unmaintained, and the upper trail gets brushy; long pants are useful. Horses also use the trail, so step off on the downhill side where riders can see you. Pets are not allowed. Overnight camping within the park requires a backcountry permit and is limited to designated sites.