Mount Misery/ Turkey Creek Loop

Trail Description

This trail is in the Washington portion of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. The trail starts off with a fairly moderate climb for the first two miles, as it winds through an open forest. After about a mile the trail comes to a saddle. From this point it stays fairly close to the ridge, as views begin to open up. Shortly after this point the trail forks, but the trails rejoin after a short distance. The right trail is an unnessesary climb, but offers some nice views. Further down the trail there is another fork. The Mount Misery trail continues to the left. To the right is a worth while side trip to Oregon Butte and Smooth ridge.

Oregon Butte is the highest point in the wilderness offering views of the Seven Devils in Idaho, the Wallowas in Oregon, and the steep/deep dry canyons of the wilderness. The Smooth Ridge trail will eventually take you all the way to the Wenaha river. It is worth the extra effort to hike a few miles down this trail. It is also worth bringing binoculars. Wildlife is abundent in the area. I saw elk, mule deer and a pine martin on my trip, but bighorn sheep, black bears, and mountain lions are common in the area.

After exploring Oregon Butte and Smooth Ridge return to the Mount Misery trail and follow it through the forest for 3.3 miles to another junction that offers other nice side trails. I hiked Rattle Snake Ridge for a couple miles though open meadows of wildflowers. From the junction take the Panjab trail that drops down to Panjab Creek. After 5.6 miles the trail splits. Follow turkey creek 4 miles back to the trail head.
Water is scarce in this area, so bring a good map that can help locate any springs.