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West Cady Ridge, Barclay Lake, Wallace Falls
Nov 12, 2008
by
sharonmattnadia
—
last modified
Nov 28, 2008 07:25 AM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: West Cady Ridge
- Region: Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
- Trails: West Cady Ridge (#1054)
- Avg Rating: 1.50
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Barclay Lake
- Region: Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
- Agency: Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Skykomish Ranger District
- Trails: Barclay Lake (#1055)
- Avg Rating: 4.00
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Wallace Falls
- Region: Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
- Agency: Washington State Parks
- Avg Rating: 3.00
- Be Aware Of
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- Water on trail
Middle Wallace Falls
Given the recent heavy rains, we called the Skykomish Ranger Station to make sure the West Cady Ridge trail was still accessible. The lady we talked to said we should probably be able to get to the trailhead. Not sure how, as when we reached Index, we found that the road was closed due to flooding. Our guidebook calls it the North Fork Skykomish Road, but apparently it's really the Index-Galena Road.
The same ranger assured us that we should have no trouble getting to the Barclay Lake trailhead, so we drove on a few miles to Baring and turned off onto the forest road. After a couple of miles, the road was blocked by logging activity, so we had to turn back. Not a very useful ranger.
We finally ended up at Wallace Falls State Park and hiked up to the Middle Falls (2.1 miles one way). The trail was delightful. We encountered just five or six other parties(rainy November Thursdays have their uses). And, I have to say, state park luxuries like flush toilets and trash cans are really nice treats.
We had some rain, some sun, and some of both at the same time. There was even a rainbow that reached down between us and the far bank of the river - absolutely stunning.
All the recent rain has made the river and waterfalls quite spectacular. There was occasional shallow water on the trail, but the trail is in wonderful shape otherwise.
Saw a woodpecker, a pipsissewa, a zeller's bolete and a chainsaw sculpture of a salmon. Back at the trailhead, we noticed that one of the signs has a nice summary of mushrooms on the trail. We hadn't seen it heading it out, because it was on the back of the sign.
The same ranger assured us that we should have no trouble getting to the Barclay Lake trailhead, so we drove on a few miles to Baring and turned off onto the forest road. After a couple of miles, the road was blocked by logging activity, so we had to turn back. Not a very useful ranger.
We finally ended up at Wallace Falls State Park and hiked up to the Middle Falls (2.1 miles one way). The trail was delightful. We encountered just five or six other parties(rainy November Thursdays have their uses). And, I have to say, state park luxuries like flush toilets and trash cans are really nice treats.
We had some rain, some sun, and some of both at the same time. There was even a rainbow that reached down between us and the far bank of the river - absolutely stunning.
All the recent rain has made the river and waterfalls quite spectacular. There was occasional shallow water on the trail, but the trail is in wonderful shape otherwise.
Saw a woodpecker, a pipsissewa, a zeller's bolete and a chainsaw sculpture of a salmon. Back at the trailhead, we noticed that one of the signs has a nice summary of mushrooms on the trail. We hadn't seen it heading it out, because it was on the back of the sign.
Forgot your
New user?
Flood damage
The Index-Galena Rd has been washed out since Nov, 2006. I guess Ranger Districts are assuming the hiking public knows this. Perhaps they forget that some hikers might be new to the area and are relying on the traditional guidebooks. You can't assume guidebooks are correct in driving instructions, especially the older 100 Hikes series, which have been replaced partially for that reason.
Though this website has a map of washed out roads (Find a Hike menu), even that isn't 100% updated - I just noticed that though it says Beckler River Rd is accessible, it says there's a washout on FS 63 several miles from the West Cady trailhead - but that washout was been repaired this fall). There have been a couple of recent trip reports on this website for West Cady, though I see none mention Index-Galena road washed out (I'm guilty of this), but do mention the repair at Blanca trailhead.
So I guess there's no easy answer. Perhaps ask specifically for directions to the trailheads when you call the ranger station. Many roads have been washed out since 2003 as well.