Chiwawa River

The Chiwawa River Trail follows its namesake river deep into the Glacier Peak Wilderness, starting from the Buck Creek Trailhead. The first 1.9 miles share the Buck Creek Trail before branching onto Trail 1550, which climbs gradually through a mix of intact forest and sections recovering from a past burn. The upper valley opens into meadows dotted with quaking aspen, a distinctive landscape for the Central Cascades.

At 5.3 miles, a junction leads left onto Trail 1550A for the final descent through huckleberry-laden forest and past avalanche chutes to the river itself at about 6.3 miles. This makes a natural turnaround point. The scenery in the upper valley is the payoff: Glacier Peak Wilderness at its most accessible, with wildflower meadows and mountain views for substantially less effort than neighboring routes like Buck Creek Pass.

The overgrown and blowdown-heavy burn zone in the middle section is the main drawback. Expect to push through shrubs and climb over or around downed trees. The trail was closed in summer 2025 due to the Pomas Fire, so check current status before heading out. A Northwest Forest Pass is required.