Tag: Panther Creek Falls

We knew it was going to be a wet day and in spite of Lori’s idea of heading east to find a dry place to hike, I was set on taking another trip into Indian Heaven Wilderness. So this time we came in from the south on the PCT and headed for Indian Race Track. On our drive to the trail head we added in a visit to Panther Creek Falls. We had never visited it before so like our route into Indian Heaven it was an exploratory.

We ended up parking the car a Crest Camp and headed North on the PCT. We would end up with a light rain all day and this would give us a chance to test how water proof our Gotex was. This is mostly a walk in the woods and today it was a wet trail. After drying out this summer the creeks were starting to flow again the trail was turning into linear lakes in places. So it proved to be a short day with just an out and back to Indian Race Track and finding our Gortex and boots were not very proof. Fortunately was also a pretty warm day so we stayed comfortable. This much rain pretty well put an end to pleasant hiking in Indian Heaven for another year and it turns back into swamp now. Round trip was 8 miles and about 900 ft. elevation gain.

Trail head sign at Panther Creek Fall. It is a short well graded trail the viewing platform a Panther Creek Falls.

Panther Creek Falls from the view platform.

We geared up at Crest Camp and headed north on the PCT.

PCT heading north and it was wet.

Plenty of rain drop on Sheep Lakes.

One of the few meadows the trail pass through to Indian Race Track.

The ground was already saturated and the trail was puddling here

Most of the berry bushes had dropped their leaves already.

Another meadow with a small pond on route.

At this section the trail was about 8 inches under water and we had to do an off trail route to get around it.

Trail Junction of PCT and Indian Race Track.

Legend has it this is where the native american raced there seahorses. A nice linear lake across the meadow.

Put a trail junction in a lake, what a great idea.

Indian Race Track Meadow. Fall leaves were almost gone and bog was returning.

Lori waiting for me to finish taking my photos so we could head back.

Small trail pond now, should be a large pond in another week.

Trail was only a couple of inch deep in water.

On the way back there was enough rain to get the creeks flowing again.

Last look at Sheep Lake then back to the car and dry cloths.