Goldmyer Hot Springs, Middle Fork Snoqualmie River, WA | July 17-18, 2022

  

Destination

  • Pedro Camp from Dingford Creek trailhead, following Forest Service Road 56 (closed to vehicles; pedestrians and cyclists OK) along the north side of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River. Pass the junction with the turnoff for Goldmyer Hot Springs, then follow the road to Hardscrabble Horse Camp to access the Dutch Miller Gap Trail #1030.
  • The next day I had a reservation to soak at Goldmyer Hot Springs, accessible on foot from my campsite!
  • The very rainy Middle Fork area rained on me so I camped in the rain at Hardscrabble Horse Camp, stopping short of Pedro Camp; I did venture a few miles down the trail to see the views after setting up camp.

Difficulty Rating

  • Moderate to Hardscrabble Horse Camp: approximately 8 miles on Forest Service Road 56 with 1500 feet of elevation gain, very runnable surface but a steady elevation gain, sometimes steep, after the Goldmyer Hot Springs junction.
  • Difficult: add on the 5 miles of somewhat rough trail to Pedro Camp or further afield to Williams Lake.

Noteworthy

  • From Forest Service Road 56 you can access the Middle Fork trail: either at the junction for Goldmyer Hot Springs or within about .5 miles of Hardscrabble Horse Camp. Some sections of the trail have significant blowdowns and overgrowth. A sturdy, reliable bridge crosses the river.
  • Hardscrabble Horse Camp is a former horse campground with tent pads, an open field, and a nearby creek for easy access to water.
  • Forest Service Road 56 to the Dingford Creek trailhead is extremely rough and a high-clearance, AWD/4WD vehicle is necessary!

Future Explorations...

  • Continue to Lake Ivanhoe or Waptus Lake.
  • Connect to the Pacific Crest Trail to exit at Snoqualmie Pass or continue to Snow Lake, then take the connector trail back to the Middle Fork.

Resources 

  • Goldmyer Hot Springs; reservations required, see website for the process to access the hot springs. Private property, do not walk in without reading the website first.
  • Dutch Miller Gap Trail #1030. Bicycles are not allowed beyond Hardscrabble Horse Camp, which has some structures you can lock a bike to.
  • Northwest Forest pass or equivalent is required to park at Dingford Creek trailhead

Media


Goldmyer Hot Springs/Middle Fork Fast Packing


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