Troublesome Creek
The day we hiked the Erinwood trail we also hiked the Troublesome Creek trail. There are several tributaries that feed into the North Fork Skykomish River and Troublesome Creek is one of them. The campground is about 15 miles from Index on the Index-Galena Road that has been closed for about 7 or 8 years due to river washout. Open now, the new road is paved, up higher on the hill, with crews installing erosion control terraces and plantings going in on the day we visited.
One of the other tributaries to the North Fork Skykomish River, Trout Creek
Named Troublesome Creek for the difficulty the railroad had in getting around it, the camp ground is closed for the season but the trail can still be accessed. We passed one small outhouse that was part of the camping area but it looked like it was locked, hence prepare for no facilities if you want to hike here in late fall or early winter.
Most of the trail looks like this
With just a few stairs
The trail we took is a loop with a lower path following along the creek and an upper mini loop that joins the lower loop again before returning to the campground proper. We chose to do the lower loop since it was right along the creek which is really a small mountain river with a torrent of fast, powerful water running down the day we were there. We followed the upper loop for a short distance to see where it went, but preferred being along the water so turned around and kept to the lower trail. It is a short loop even adding the extra part of the upper loop. Bob estimated that it ended up being about the same as the Erinwood trail, .8 miles for the loop.
Metal bridge
Wooden bridge
There are two sturdy foot bridges crossing the creek that offer opportunities to take pictures of the rapids, falls, and rushing water in the creek.
Pools
and rapids
with water that is incredibly clear and a blue-green color. There are pools, rapids, waterfalls and wonderful water music all along the lower loop trail.
Our only animal sighting for the day was this busy, busy, woolly bear caterpillar hurrying to somewhere ...
Little yellowish mushrooms
Medium sized flat topped brown mushrooms
Larger pink-purple cup shaped top mushroom
Cream colored concave mushrooms
There were mushrooms growing in this forest too, but perhaps not quite as many as we encountered in Erinwood.
Only one place with an almost obstacle--Watch your head
North Fork Skykomish
On the return trip toward Index, we pulled over and took a picture into bright sun over the North Fork Skykomish River.
Looking over the roof tops of Index was this view of the peaks in the Wild Sky Wilderness.
All in all, a wonderful day of solitude and peace, cool but not too cold, sunny and bright, no traffic noise, and beautiful nature surrounding us.
Count for the day:
No people, no dogs
.8 mile loop, a couple of small hills, no perceptible elevation gain
65 miles from home
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