Eureka Creek

The Eureka Creek Trail would be part of a fine loop except for the fact the trail is only maintained on the ends and has been abandoned in the middle. It provides access to the Ferguson Lake Trail on the southern end. The northern end accesses Fred’s Lake and Lake Doris.

The southern maintained 1.7 miles leaves the Middle Fork Pasayten (Robinson Creek) trail at an elevation of 5190 feet, 1.8 miles north of Robinson Pass. The trail sign indicates Ferguson Lake 474A, the most popular destination. Yes, this is really the Eureka Cr Trail 474.
The trail immediately starts switchbacking up the hillside on a rocky tread in forest and brush for 0.6 mile to elevation 5730 feet. A few views across the valley punctuate a climbing traverse of 0.8 mile. It leads into a side valley and the crossing of an unnamed creek at elevation 6140 feet. There is a small campsite near the crossing.

After the crossing, the trail climbs through the forest for 0.3 mile with a few switchbacks, reaching an unmarked, barely discernable, junction at elevation 6540 feet. The major trail, which is turning left, is the Ferguson Lake Trail 474A. The minor path to the right is the Eureka Creek Trail 474.  It passes an old sign on a tree, which points back toward Ferguson Lake, and continues into unmaintained oblivion.

The northern maintained 2.5 miles leaves the Middle Fork Pasayten (Robinson Creek) trail at an elevation of 4970 feet, 6.1 miles north of Robinson Pass. It also starts with many switchbacks up through the forest for 0.9 mile, to an elevation of 5960 feet. In summer, the shade is welcome from the afternoon heat. A climbing traverse of 0.7 mile, mostly in forest, passes through meadows just before reaching Fred’s Lake, elevation 6507 feet. There are few campsites near the outlet of the lake.

The trail continues around the east side of Fred’s lake and switchbacks up to the ridge crest after 0.6 miles, elevation 7130 feet. Now above tree line, views are northwest down to Fred’s Lake and after skirting a small bump, east to the Eureka Creek headwater basin. The trail starts a descent into the Eureka Creek valley, passing a junction with the access trail to Lake Doris at 0.2 mile. The Eureka Creek Trail continues beyond the Lake Doris junction, entering the a region of abandoned trails: Eureka Creek, Ptarmigan Creek, and Monument Creek.