Deception Creek Cutoff

Deception Creek Cutoff is a short, steep connector trail that drops 480 feet in 0.6 miles from Forest Road 6830 down to the Deception Creek Trail in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The narrow path winds through brush under dense tree canopy, reaching the wilderness boundary within 15 minutes. Fisher Creek runs along the right side as you descend, and the trail ends at a small campground near the Deception Creek junction.

This trailhead serves as an alternate starting point for trips to Deception Lakes, Deception Pass, the PCT, Tonga Ridge, and Fisher Lake. It works well for backpackers who want to avoid the longer approach from other trailheads. A memorial to Faye Ogilvie of the Alpine Lakes Protection Society marks the area.

The access road from Highway 2 near Skykomish covers roughly 26 miles of forest road. Multiple trip reports note that hikers have accidentally ended up here while looking for the Tonga Ridge trailhead, as the turnoffs can be confusing.