Trip Report: Spider Meadow

This hike begins at the Phelps Creek Trailhead. Getting there is pretty straightforward, and routable via Google Maps, so I won’t provide detailed directions here. The WTA Hiking Guide (see Resources, below) does provide good directions. Do be aware, however, that for the final 12 miles or so you will be on a dirt road that has a few switch backs and at times is quite rough. Perfectly safe, though I would encourage the use of a high clearance vehicle with AWD (see video in Resources, below).

Overview

This is a really splendid hike, the distance not great and elevation not extreme, but the rewards are high. The hike culminates in a wide basin, with Spider Meadow being the pay-off. In the summer it will be filled with wildflowers and surrounded by snow peaked mountains. For this hike, I was visiting in early August, just a bit past peak for the wildflowers, but still quite lovely. Beyond Spider Meadow, you can explore deeper into Phelps Basin or make the climb up to Spider Glacier and on to Spider Gap if you are really adventurous.

Day 1: Phelps Creek Basin to Spider Meadow

Distance: 6.24mi
Elevation Gain / Loss: +1662/-362

The hike in to Spider Meadow is fairly straight forward.  The slight rise is consistent over the length of the miles as you amble along Phelps Creek Trail. You will have periodic breaks with mountain views and will more or less follow Phelps Creek the entire way.

There will be very easy access to water so no need to carry more than required for the short hike to camp.  After about 2.5 miles or so you will enter Glacier Peak Wilderness as the trail continues fairly unnotably until about 3.5 miles in where Leroy Creek joins Phelps Creek.

Look for a small rock cairn that marks where you should turn left, else you end up on Leroy Basin Trail (which starts climbing steeply, a dead give-away that’ve you’ve mad an error should you miss the cairn).  As you turn left, look across the stream (Leroy Creek) and you should see another small cairn. Once again, head to the left at the cairn and you’ll pick up the trail again.

Your first really good views of the meadow will come around 5.5 miles into your hike. There are toilets nearby and quite a few areas for setting up camp. The meadows are fragile so please follow basic LNT principles and don’t setup camp except in those areas with clearly durable surfaces. As most people will grab the first available spot, this area may be quite full. Press on just a bit farther. I found a good spot at about 6.2 miles in, right next to the creek, somewhat tucked within a stand of trees and not very obvious from the trail.

However, if you continue along just a bit further even, maybe another 1/2 mile, you will start to head up into a wooded area where you will find a couple of small sites and one quite massive site near to the small trail that continues back into Phelps Basin.

Setup camp and then enjoy the spectacular scenery!