White Chuck Bench – Crystal Creek Trail  is an easy, year round trail.   You can access this trail at the White Chuck Bench Trailhead, to the north, or the Crystal Creek Trailhead, to the south.   You can also make this a relaxing 7 mile through hike with little elevation gain by using two vehicles.  We’ll start our trail description hiking from the northern trailhead.

In spring enjoy early wildflowers and in summer the shade of the canopy over a mossy glade.  Fall is a time of fall colors from the deciduous trees and shrubs, and keep your eye out for bald eagles.   In the winter you get views of the snowy peaks of White Chuck and Pugh Mountains.  The roads are usually open to White Chuck Bridge during winter, but there have been some winters  that this road was not passable due to snow, so you might want to check with the Darrington Ranger Station before planning your trip.

The White Chuck Bench Fire Lookout  was just east of the parking area and the trail starts you off on the old railroad grade of the Sauk River Logging Company paralleling the beautiful White Chuck River.  In areas of second growth forest you will notice giant cedar stumps as you hike.  These trees were cut a long time ago all by hand with the two man “misery whip”, a very long, large toothed saw which was pushed and pulled as the two men sawed.  Many of the stumps still have notches “eyes” where Spring boards were wedged in for the men to stand on.

The trail continues weaving its way through mixed forest then returning up to an old road grade, then taking a foot bridge over Black Creek.  At one time, after a bout a 0.5 miles, the trail faded, as the other end of this through trail was severely damaged in the storm damage of 2003.  Thanks to the perseverance of the Washington Trail Association, WTA, and their passion for preserving trails and National Trail Day work parties, this is once again.

Continuing on the trail views of White Chuck River open up and the further you hike the more abundant the wildflowers are.  The trail descends down fording one creek then to the bridge crossing at beautiful Crystal Creek, then a leisurely grade to the trailhead on White Chuck Road.

Views From White Chuck Bench Trail