Looking for a cool hike on a hot summer day? The West Fork Fish Creek starts out hot as we hiked through the blackened spires from the 2015 burn. But eventually, we reach the Cathedral of Cedars where towering western red cedars shade the cool waters of Fish Creek. This is a relatively flat trail that follows along a cool creek is a great day hike.

From the Clearwater Crossing trailhead, we forded the creek, which was relatively deep and hairy in terms of footing. The suspension footbridge that once crossed West Fork Fish Creek was destroyed in the 2015 wildfire.  After hiking roughly 3 miles, we came to pack bridge that marks the edge of the Cathedral of Cedars. We spent time resting and enjoying the large pool above the bridge before turning back to the trailhead.

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Trailhead...always starting at the trailhead
Trailhead…always starting at the trailhead
Chilly feet crossing the West Fork Fish Creek
Chilly feet crossing the West Fork Fish Creek
Vida gearing up after the fording
Vida gearing up after the fording
Tall fireweed in this formerly intense burn
Tall fireweed in this formerly intense burn
life always find a way until the fire
life always find a way until the fire
Bee-like Robber Flies getting busy
Bee-like Robber Flies getting busy
West Fork Fish Creek near the Cathedral of Cedars
West Fork Fish Creek near the Cathedral of Cedars
Ground layer of ferns under the western red cedar
Ground layer of ferns under the western red cedar
The Cathedral of Cedars from ground level
The Cathedral of Cedars from ground level
The Cathedral of Cedars is very Tolkien place
The Cathedral of Cedars is very Tolkien place
Cathedral of Cedars on the West Fork Fish Creek
Cathedral of Cedars on the West Fork Fish Creek
Old burned snag under the canopy of western red cedar
Old burned snag under the canopy of western red cedar

Pack bridge over the creek

West Fork Fish Creek from the pack bridge
West Fork Fish Creek from the pack bridge
Vida is getting lucky...no really
Vida is getting lucky…no really
She is doing the big cool off
She is doing the big cool off
West Fork Fish Creek
West Fork Fish Creek

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