Bedal Creek Trail #705
This trail starts by winding through thick old growth forest at a pretty steep pace but rewards with some great views of the mountains along the way. This trail is listed as a late summer and fall seasonal trail. Earlier in summer, the first part of this hike can be dazzling with wildflowers, such as trillium, violets, claytonia and monkey flower. It can also be a short hike, as Bedal Creek is usually flowing high and swift, making it uncrossable. However, it you should continue…
Not too long after fording Bedal Creek, the trail leaves the forest and comes to a rock slide. You can gaze up at Sloan Peak and see one of it’s several avalanche chutes. The trail continues to climb upward and eventually crosses to the other side of the rock slide. You need to pay attention to the cairns marking the trail through these large boulders. After emerging from the slide the trail returns to the forest and enters the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness.
Views From Bedal Creek Trail
The trail travels along side one of the avalanche chute and eventually opens up to a beautiful boulder strewn alpine meadow with the massive Sloan Peak towering above you. One might pause to reflect upon nature and how it can produce a destructive avalanche and a brilliant flower field in such proximity.
You will see two huge boulders on the other side of the meadow, to the right. On the downhill side of the smaller boulder is the remains of pioneer Harry Bedal’s cabin built in 1919. Harry chose his cabin site well, this boulder providing shelter from ongoing slides, it was never destroyed, just succumbed to weathering.
Harry had an asbestos mine north of the cabin towards Sloan Peak. He was known to have climbed to his cabin sometimes a couple times a day, sometimes hauling ore or pelts back down. Harry made his cabin of peeled logs and split cedar boards with a large picture window and porch overlooking the surrounding mountains.
Please leave the ruins how you found them. Harry was a noted area legend and was instrumental in the construction of Three Fingers Fire Lookout. The Bedal family leaves our Darrington area a rich and historic heritage.
The Climber’s route for Bedal and Sloan Peaks continues beyond the alpine meadow where Harry’s cabin once stood.
Getting there: From the Darrington Ranger Station, take Mt. Loop Highway, Forest Road #20, for 17.5 miles, turn up Forest Service Road #4096 on the left. This road climbs steeply, at about 2 miles. The trailhead is at the end of the road, parking is limited. Bedal Creek Trail heads up hill, also you will notice a trail going over the water-bar south of the parking area. This is the Chockwich Mountain Bike Trail #647.2 which involves fording Bedal and Chocwich Creeks then goes to the Upper Goat Lake / Elliot Creek Trail #647.
History: This trail goes to pioneer Harry Bedal’s historic trapping cabin site.
Wilderness restrictions: Yes, enters the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
Restroom: No
Length: 2.2 miles
Elevation: 2,800 – 4,700