Views of Glacier Peak from the legendary Circle Peak Trail  The last 7 miles of the Forest Road #2703, Circle Creek Road is facing pending decommissioning. Why
do we think this road is so important to save? This well constructed
road ends at a landing suitable for trailhead parking near the Forest
Service built trail accessing both Crystal Lake & Circle Peak making both of these trails realistic day hikes.  Looking up the Circle Creek Road, photo by Martha Rasmussen  Constructed Circle Peak Forest Service Trail, photo by Martha Rasmussen The Circle Peak Trail is a well constructed trail traveling along Circle Creek, beautiful meadows then climbing into an amazing array of wildflowers and mountain vistas. Keeping the Circle Creek Road open will allow workers access to this trail as well as the Crystal Lake trail for maintenance. If this road is decommissioned the Trail Crew will need to access these trails by hiking several miles on the closed Meadow Mountain Road and reconstructed Circle Creek Road. The wildflowers of Circle Peak, photo by Martha Rasmussen Workers will then need to continue up a steep unbuilt trail to
the drainage of Crystal Lake where the Forest Service built trail
begins. If trail work is slated for the Circle Peak trail, workers must hike beyond Crystal Lake continuing on the Forest Service built trail with a steady climb ending at an elevation of 5,983 feet to Circle Peak. Budgets for both forest roads and trails are declining and having sensible access for maintenance only makes sense. We at DARA are working to preserve our valuable forest roads and outdoor recreation by partnering stewardship programs that will generate revenues needed for both trail and forest road access to outdoor recreation. |
