It’s far from a done deal, but there has been progress toward a possible new route for a short section of trail that would allow hikers and horseback riders to use the South Creek Trail again.
The route, a popular trail in the upper Twisp River drainage, is open for 2 1/2 miles until it hits private property, where the property owner closed a half-mile stretch last year to protect his property from vandalism and theft. He also had concerns about COVID when he roped off the trail with “no trespassing” signs in the spring of 2021.
Hikers, the Methow Valley Backcountry Horsemen, and representatives from the Methow Valley Ranger District have been in discussions with the property owner about an alternate route for the section that crosses private land.
The ranger district has taken initial steps, doing field work and surveys for a re-route, Methow Valley District Ranger Chris Furr said. Any changes will have to go through a public comment period and review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The ranger district hasn’t completed an easement with the landowner, but they hope the easement and NEPA review can be done over the winter, Furr said.
“There have been discussions about how to complete the re-route, but nothing is set in stone yet,” he said.
The private property, one of only two private inholdings in the Lake Chelan–Sawtooth Wilderness, consists of what were initially six mining claims on 82 acres and a nearby (but not contiguous) mill site on another 5 acres. The claims date to the late 19th century. The hiking trail crosses both parcels for about 1/2 mile in all.
The trail was popular, particularly with equestrians, as a gradual route to the scenic Cascade crest before descending to Stehekin. Hikers and equestrians used the trail regularly in the past and said they were careful to stay on the trail where it crossed private property. A member of the backcountry horsemen said she hoped that any new trail would be suitable for horses.
The ranger district believes the trail has been there since 1899, but the U.S. Forest Service has never had an easement across the private property, Methow Valley Ranger District Recreation Program Manager Rosemary Seifried said last year. The Forest Service was created in 1905.
About 70% of the South Creek Trail burned in the 2018 Crescent Mountain Fire. Loss of trees and brush in the fire made his property less private, Jack Cramer, a member of the family that owns the property, said last year.
The ranger district has no jurisdiction over the private property. The agency posted signs at the trailhead letting trail users know about the closure.
The Methow Valley Trails Collaborative has been tracking the situation and is open to helping find a resolution. A representative from the ranger district provides periodic reports to the collaborative.
The collaborative brings together groups including the backcountry horsemen, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, Methow Conservancy and Methow Valley Snowmobile Association. It partners with agencies including the ranger district and Pearrygin Lake State Park.
