This pleasant 45k loop takes you from the valley floor up into luscious tall eucalypt forest and rainforest, then along the single-track Rim Walk, winding through Morton National Park with spectacular views over Yarrunga Creek Valley and of Fitzroy Falls. As you descend down from the rim and into the other side of the valley, on either side of the fire trail you'll see heathland, woodland, tall Brown Barrel Forest and tree ferns. There is a short stretch along the shoulder of a busy road before Fitzroy Falls. Most of the route is highly runnable fire trail, and easy as ultras go.

The Stour and Orwell Walk is a long distance footpath which serves as an extension west from Felixstowe to the Suffolk Coast Path and follows the coast and heaths along the estuaries of the Orwell and the Stour, going around the Shotley peninsula to Cattawade, providing links with the Essex Way (at Manningtree, across the river) and the Stour Valley Path (East Anglia) (at Cattawade).

The journey actually begins on the gravel, windy road that leads you up one of the highest roads in Washington to Hart’s Pass and the PCT trailhead.  Beautiful alpine meadows, rugged ridges and mountain peaks of the Paysayten Wilderness.

Route:

Follow the PCT north for about 18 miles to the junction with Rock Creek Trail #473. This section of the PCT offers incredible views and alpine meadows filled with wildflowers.

The area offers rugged peaks, alpine lakes nestled in hidden basins, deep valleys surrounded by cascading waterfalls, and lush green meadows.  Five or six miles of unmaintained trail that will require the traveler to have a background in navigation. The views and solitude are worth the “extra work”.

Start Point: Hatchery Creek TH on FS Rd 7905

End Point: Chiwaukum TH off Hwy 2

Route:

Leg 1: Hatchery Creek Trail #1577 to junction with Trail #1576 (3.0 miles) stay left and continue on Hatchery Creek Trail at this junction

From Long Swamp, the route begins a lollipop loop by running the 4 mile stick on trail # 342.  Connect to trail #375, #341, and then #343. The trail then reconnects with trail #342, for the 4 mile return trip to Long Swamp.

Lake Tahoe is a place of spectacular natural beauty, but certainly one of the gems in her crown is Desolation Wilderness.