Thursday was a long day in the car and on the trail, so I'm writing my post about it this morning.
My husband and I agreed that Noisy Creek would be our hiking destination. After a long car ride from Everson we drove to Baker lake to begin our hike. We started hiking at 12:30 and didn't get home until 9pm last night.
It was a wonderful day for our hike. I decided that the Noisy Creek trail should be put on a list entitled "The Best PNW trails to hike on a hot day". The trail has very few sections where you are in full sun. The shade and mist in the air near the falls and creeks would be the perfect escape on a hot summer day.
It was warm enough yesterday that the shade and cool air around the falls and creeks was refreshing.
I only have one gripe to the forest service. There really isn't any trail info, at the parking lot. It would be nice if they would post a list of trails the are available from the parking lot, with a map as well on the signboard. There really was no trail info, at the parking lot. There was a woman at the lot asking around if this was the Noisy creek trailhead parking lot. Too bad, it's a Loooong way to drive to be unsure of where you're hiking. I know that the info. can be found online and in books, but a trailhead sign would be wonderful.
The first 1/2 mile is a nice wide corridor through the forest. I always laugh to myself because it's easy to tell on a trail where the majority of people stop hiking and turn around. The trail becomes noticeably more narrow where the "destination" hikers continue on. On this trail it seemed to be at about the first very large Cedar tree.
It's really too bad that most seem to turn around there, since just a few yards farther they would have come to this:
The Baker River suspension bridge
Baker River
We went across the Suspension bridge for our hike to Noisy Creek. You can hike to Sulphide Creek for a shorter hike and a nice location for lunch by going straight on the trail before crossing the bridge. I hiked there once with the Senior Trailblazers from Bellingham in May of 2011, you can read about that trip and see photos of Sulphide Creek in my blog post HERE.
After we had hiked for about 2 miles we came to Hidden Creek. A large tree had fallen at the bridge and had damaged just the first section, but they had cleared it. We talked to a trail crew person about their efforts in repairing the bridge. They are using Cedar from the area and hand cutting the boards that they will place on the bridge. The air was full of the scent of cut Cedar. Heavenly!
There are caution tapes blocking the approach at both ends of the bridge. The crew person stressed that if we were to cross - it would be at our own risk. We accepted the terms. The damaged end had some temporary planks situated as a foot bridge to the main span. So we went on ahead and crossed.
The first time I stepped across this bridge was 6 years ago.
Here's me - then and now on the Hidden Creek bridge.
The trail then continues through the beautiful forest, with a few creek crossings with and without (2 or 3) bridges and some boardwalks on the trail.
We planned on eating at the Noisy Creek campground, but decided to first walk out to the Noisy Creek bridge.
What a view we had of Mt. Baker as we were walking to Noisy Creek.
Noisy Creek
Looking at Baker Lake from the Noisy Creek bridge.
Time for a late lunch at the campground,
As we were walking back on the trail about half way from the campground and the Hidden Creek bridge we heard a massive explosion. Our minds raced from a huge tree falling, to a creek/rock burst to a plane crash. We never did see any evidence of anything on the trail, but it kept us wondering as to just what had happened.
I didn't get any pictures of them but the trail (mostly in the moist creek areas) was jumping ;-) with tiny brown frogs.
Another of the "no bridge" creek crossings.
This trail has so many hidden gems along it.
Garmin stats:
total miles hiked - 10.5
minimum altitude - 1003 feet
maximum altitude - 1195 feet
total ascent - 1217
total descent - 1391 feet
My husband and I agreed that Noisy Creek would be our hiking destination. After a long car ride from Everson we drove to Baker lake to begin our hike. We started hiking at 12:30 and didn't get home until 9pm last night.
It was a wonderful day for our hike. I decided that the Noisy Creek trail should be put on a list entitled "The Best PNW trails to hike on a hot day". The trail has very few sections where you are in full sun. The shade and mist in the air near the falls and creeks would be the perfect escape on a hot summer day.
It was warm enough yesterday that the shade and cool air around the falls and creeks was refreshing.
I only have one gripe to the forest service. There really isn't any trail info, at the parking lot. It would be nice if they would post a list of trails the are available from the parking lot, with a map as well on the signboard. There really was no trail info, at the parking lot. There was a woman at the lot asking around if this was the Noisy creek trailhead parking lot. Too bad, it's a Loooong way to drive to be unsure of where you're hiking. I know that the info. can be found online and in books, but a trailhead sign would be wonderful.
The first 1/2 mile is a nice wide corridor through the forest. I always laugh to myself because it's easy to tell on a trail where the majority of people stop hiking and turn around. The trail becomes noticeably more narrow where the "destination" hikers continue on. On this trail it seemed to be at about the first very large Cedar tree.
It's really too bad that most seem to turn around there, since just a few yards farther they would have come to this:
The Baker River suspension bridge
Baker River
We went across the Suspension bridge for our hike to Noisy Creek. You can hike to Sulphide Creek for a shorter hike and a nice location for lunch by going straight on the trail before crossing the bridge. I hiked there once with the Senior Trailblazers from Bellingham in May of 2011, you can read about that trip and see photos of Sulphide Creek in my blog post HERE.
After we had hiked for about 2 miles we came to Hidden Creek. A large tree had fallen at the bridge and had damaged just the first section, but they had cleared it. We talked to a trail crew person about their efforts in repairing the bridge. They are using Cedar from the area and hand cutting the boards that they will place on the bridge. The air was full of the scent of cut Cedar. Heavenly!
There are caution tapes blocking the approach at both ends of the bridge. The crew person stressed that if we were to cross - it would be at our own risk. We accepted the terms. The damaged end had some temporary planks situated as a foot bridge to the main span. So we went on ahead and crossed.
The first time I stepped across this bridge was 6 years ago.
Here's me - then and now on the Hidden Creek bridge.
The trail then continues through the beautiful forest, with a few creek crossings with and without (2 or 3) bridges and some boardwalks on the trail.
 |
| one of the "no bridge" creek crossings |
 |
| boardwalk |
 |
| bleeding hearts |
 |
| bunch berries |
We planned on eating at the Noisy Creek campground, but decided to first walk out to the Noisy Creek bridge.
What a view we had of Mt. Baker as we were walking to Noisy Creek.
Noisy Creek
Looking at Baker Lake from the Noisy Creek bridge.
Time for a late lunch at the campground,
As we were walking back on the trail about half way from the campground and the Hidden Creek bridge we heard a massive explosion. Our minds raced from a huge tree falling, to a creek/rock burst to a plane crash. We never did see any evidence of anything on the trail, but it kept us wondering as to just what had happened.
I didn't get any pictures of them but the trail (mostly in the moist creek areas) was jumping ;-) with tiny brown frogs.
Another of the "no bridge" creek crossings.
This trail has so many hidden gems along it.
Garmin stats:
total miles hiked - 10.5
minimum altitude - 1003 feet
maximum altitude - 1195 feet
total ascent - 1217
total descent - 1391 feet
