North Fork 25 Mile Creek

My parents were visiting and wanted to get out for a short hike with the dogs. Having hiked a short amount on the North Fork 25 Miles Creek trail while doing the Lone Peak trail in the spring, I thought that would be a new and interesting place for everyone to venture. We loaded up the extended family and dogs in the car, and made the drive around the lake and up to 25 Mile Creek. After parking next to the one other car there, we walked up Shady Pass Road to the trailhead.

Wildflowers on the walk to the trailhead

I was hoping for a little more shade on the first section of the hike, but the first mile or so (including the walk up to the trailhead) had minimal shade. There was a decent breeze and it was mid-morning, so it was hot, but not stifling. The grass, weeds and bushes were starting to encroach on the trail. It didn't bother me, but my son was having some issues with prickly weeds rubbing against his legs.

My family on the start of the trail

The trail crossed a dry stream bed, and then made it way through a partially burned out forest - not sure which fire this was, maybe the recent 25 mile creek fire, or possibly the older Pot Peak fire in 2004. Some trees had escaped the worst of the fire, and did provide occasional shade along the way.

North Fork 25 Mile Creek trail

At about a mile in, we entered into some thicker forest and the trail descended down close to the creek. From what I have read, the trail follows a very old road and at this point the road ends. While it wasn't immediately obvious to me that we were on an old road, the trail definitely changed at this point, no longer flat and open.

About fifteen feet below us, there was a small waterfall, and my dad, son, two dogs and I descended off the trail and down to the water, with my mom and wife opting to watch us from the trail. The dogs drank water and sat down in the pool below the small waterfall, enjoying the cool mountain water.

Gem cooling off in the North Fork of 25 Mile Creek

Small waterfall along the North Fork 25 Mile Creek trail

My parent's older dog Gem, almost 12 years old, had a hard time getting back up to the trail, so I had to lift her up a couple of times over rocks. My back had already been bothering me from some landscaping work around the house, and later that day I was really feeling the effects of picking her up. I guess I need to lift with my knees and not my back!

We decided to turn around here and head back. The trail in front of us went up steeply, and I went up a little to see if it leveled out, which didn't appear to be the case. On the map there isn't much vertical gain, but it does look like this small section has more up and down than what we had come in on. Upon leaving the water, I noticed some old metal pipes, and later learned that apparently this was constructed in 1945 as a water source for the Hale Homestead, which makes sense as to why there would have been an old road to this point.

My dad hiking the North Fork 25 Mile Creek trail

The hike back out was straightforward. We had to keep reminding the dogs, especially Gem the older dog, not to venture down the steep hillside in search of wildlife. They are bird dogs, and once they catch a scent of something interesting, its hard to get them to back off.

Belle looking for birds

It was a short, but fun hike. It's quite a drive from Manson, but my parents had never been in 25 mile creek and the drive itself is very pleasant. I have now done some bits and pieces of the trail, and need to figure out how to do the full trail, either as a multi-day or let the back get better and slog out the 18 miles in one day.