Dry Creek Trail #194(edit)

based on 37 tracks & routes | |

MODERATE

#359 hike out of 624 in Gifford Pinchot National Forest |

MODERATE

7.5 mi

Distance

4 hrs 18 min

Time

354 ft

Elev Gain

Overview

This is an easy out and back trail to Big Hollow Trailhead in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The trail is relatively flat and wide, following an old roadbed for most of the distance. It is close to Dry Creek and is a fabulous fall hike.
At ~0.6 miles the trail splits, with a horse route crossing Dry Creek to avoid a narrow trail section. At ~3 miles the trail enters forest burned during the Sept. 2020 Big Hollow fire. Despite the fire, there is still a significant forest canopy over the trail. Fords of Bourbon Creek and Big Hollow Creek are necessary to reach the Big Hollow trailhead, or turnaround at Bourbon Creek as the Big Hollow Creek trailhead is only another 0.3 miles further. Note maps show the Bourbon Creek crossing ~0.1 further up the trail than it actually is.

Getting Started

Forest Service directions: From Carson, WA follow the Wind River Road north for about 13.5 then miles take a left on Mineral Springs Road (Forest Road 3065). Take the first right on Forest Road 5401. The large Trapper Creek Trailhead parking lot is at the end of the road. There is a toilet at this trailhead.
Head north from the parking lot and soon keep straight for Dry Creek at the junction with the Trapper Creek Trail.

Taking Children

Great hike for children. While the trail is near the creek, it is not immediately another the creek.

Sights to See

Trapper Creek Trailhead

Rate this Hike

★★★★★

Sugar Pine 2 years, 10 months ago

Great fall hike and not bad in the rain, as the trail is wide and not too much vegetation over the trail. But, the Big Hollow Creek was raging during our November hike, so we decided to turn around. There were some downed trees for crossing, but at this time they were very wet and snow/icy covered.

★ ★ ★ ★

karlwardrop 2 years, 11 months ago

Trail is very pretty. Follows Dry creek (which this time of year was anything but dry) up the valley. Open trees, most likely first 2 miles is old road bed, now single track. Does go thru the east end of the Hollow Creek burn area near the north end. We didn't reach the Big Hallow trail 158, too much water in some of the northern creeks. Nice 9.5 mile out and back.

★ ★ ★ ★