Mineral Creek

The Mineral Creek trail provides access to the Pacific Crest Trail via the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. 

From the trailhead, descend to a crossing of the Kachess River, then climb a quarter mile to where the trail crosses  Little Kachess Trail.

Your way turns right, heading uphill through old-growth forest on an old mining road. 1.5 miles in, you'll pass an old mine at the end of the road, and shortly after that the trail crosses Mineral Creek, entering the wilderness just across the creek.

Once in wilderness, the trail becomes even more rugged, running high above the creek and passing through several brushy avalanche clearings interspersed with forest.

At approximately four miles, the trail crosses a creek and begins to climb steeply through forest towards Upper Park Lake.

Near the lake, the trail levels off in an area of trees, meadows, and rolling hills called Park Lakes Basin (no campfires are allowed in the basin) and continues upward towards its junction with the Pacific Crest Trail.