Clearwater Trail 1178

Clearwater Trail is a strenuous 8.1-mile hike. The trail begins at 4,200 feet at Martin Gap Trailhead on Forest Service Road 74 and ends at 4,320 feet at the Forest Service Road 7720 trailhead. This primitive trail is hard to find at times and starts at the Carbon Trail 1179 for a tenth of a mile and turns right where the Clearwater Trail 1178 starts, at the entrance to Clearwater Wilderness.

This trail will take you through multiple switchbacks, old growth timber and across three creeks that can be tricky to ford with large packs. At mile .7 mile find Dry Camp. Cross the Clearwater River at mile 3.4 and start to gradually climb, arriving at Lily Camp at mile 4.1 with Lily Creek a little further. Hike just over seven miles to arrive at Celery Meadow, a wet meadow with a campsite and horse feed. From here the trail levels off and heads west. The junction with the abandoned Rooster Comb Trail is just ahead at mile 7.6. Head through old growth timber with limited scenic views but many opportunities for solitude. The trail leads west onto private land and a large harvested area, where it switchbacks across the East Fork of South Prairie Creek and down to Forest Service Road 7720.

NOTE: The Rooster Comb Trail is very difficult and hard to follow. This trail hugs a sharp ridge and in many places is a full-on rock scramble.

Washington Trails Association Hiking Guide and Trip Reports