The PCT near Stevens Pass is way more crowded than it was a decade ago

I did a section hike there in 2014 and maybe saw a dozen people over three days. Went back last month and it felt like a highway, with a steady stream of thru-hikers and weekenders. The established campsites were full by 4 PM, which forced me to push on a few extra miles. Has anyone else found a quieter alternate route through that part of the Cascades?

3 comments

3 Comments

faith7411mo ago

Notice how everything good gets found and ruined. Social media turns quiet spots into bucket list items, and the crowds follow. We're all just chasing the same ghost of a past experience.

robert_bennett291mo ago

I used to roll my eyes when people complained about crowds on the PCT. My trip in 2016 was pretty quiet too. But I tried to camp at Lake Valhalla last August and it was a zoo, maybe thirty tents crammed in there. That totally changed my mind. For a quieter route, look at the old Icicle Creek trail network just to the east. It connects back to the PCT but sees way less foot traffic.

-1

val_taylor1mo ago

Actually, that old Icicle Creek trail got hit pretty hard by the 2017 fire. I mean, a lot of it is still closed or just gone now. The Jack Creek ridge part is still okay though, idk, maybe it's just me but I'd check the forest service site before sending people over there.