The PCT is closed between Ridge Lake (mile 2403.5) and the Lake Vicente junction (mile 2437.5) due to the King Fire and Three Queens Fire. The most recent closure order (September 18th) reopened parts of the PCT north of Snoqualmie Pass, but note that most of this section still remains closed, and the detour option below is still the only recommended thru-hike route between Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass. Contact Cle Elum Ranger Station with questions (509) 852-1100

Potential walking detour

Important note: The Snow Lake Trail, which is the southern tip of the detour, will be closed Sept. 14-25. If you are in the area during that time, follow this alternate beginning which adds roughly 4 miles to the total detour distance. Please note that the Pratt River Trail can be difficult to follow and requires a map and route-finding abilities. - Access the Denny Creek Trailhead by following the Denny Creek Road for ~3 miles west from the PCT trailhead on the north side of Snoqualmie Pass. To avoid some road walking, hikers can join the Franklin Falls trail from the bottom of the second switchback descending the Denny Creek Road, rejoining the road just before it crosses the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River. - Follow the Denny Creek Trail 4.1 miles to Melakwa Lake, then 2.8 miles up to Pratt Lake. - From Pratt Lake, follow the Pratt River Trail northwest for 9.3 miles to the junction with the Pratt Connector Trail. - Turn right (northeast) and follow the Pratt Connector Trail for 2.9 miles to the Middle Fork Trailhead, crossing a bridge over the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River just before. - Rejoin the rest of the detour route below by taking the Snoqualmie Connector Trail towards the Snoqualmie Lake Trail. More information about the Snow Lake Trail closure can be found at the link below. --- A potential 39-mile detour is available using the Snow Lake, Rock Creek, Middle Fork, Snoqualmie Lake, and Dorothy Lake trails that route around the closure, and gets hikers to Highway 2, but not all the way to Stevens Pass. This detour has not been recently ground-truthed by PCTA or Forest Service staff, and conditions on this detour may vary, be challenging, and not up to road and trail maintenance standards. We encourage people to exercise good judgment when deciding whether to pursue this detour and travel with caution. We do not know if this detour is passable for pack and saddle. The detour is described below in the northbound direction: - Access Snow Lake Trailhead just north of the PCT trailhead on the north side of Snoqualmie Pass. - Start with the 3.2 mile climb up to Snow Lake. Continue to the intersection of the Rock Creek and High Lakes Trails and head right down the Rock Creek Trail. - Proceed roughly north about 3.5 miles down this potentially challenging trail. - At the intersection with the Middle Fork Trail, head west (left), and continue for a little over 8 miles to the trailhead. *This is where the Snow Lake closure's alternate beginning rejoins the main route* - Take the Snoqualmie Connector Trail another 0.5mi to the road bridge over the Taylor River. - This is NF Road 56/5640 that you'll take 0.6mi to another bridge over the river. - From here the Snoqualmie Lake Trail goes 9.7 miles along the Taylor River, passing Snoqualmie, Deer, and Bear Lakes on its way to the ridgeline overlooking Dorothy Lake. - This trail turns into the Dorothy Lake Trail at this point, which goes down to and around Dorothy Lake, and back to what was once the trailhead on Miller River Road (FS 6412). This road has been closed for many years due to slides. - Walk the Miller River Road for about 9 miles (~4mi of which are closed to vehicles). You'll pass Miller River Group Camp along the way. The detour ends at the Old Cascade Highway intersection, a short walk to Highway 2. PCTA does not recommend walking along Highway 2, or any high-speed paved roads for that matter. We recommend that hikers find another means of travel to return to the open sections of the PCT. Hikers should note that the Old Cascade Highway does not have a bridge over the Miller River, so walking this way to Skykomish isn't possible.