New Fork/Doubletop Cutoff #7186

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Features Commonly Backpacked · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The New Fork/Doubletop Cutoff is the quickest way to get into the high country from the New Fork trailhead. It is found at the 2 mile mark along the New Fork - Porcupine Trail #137 that starts at the New Fork trailhead.

The New Fork/Doubletop Cutoff starts in the flat New Fork River valley. It heads straight to the river and crosses it. This is an easy, shallow ford by September. If hiking this earlier in the season, make sure to check a reliable source for the conditions. The exit of the ford is a bit downstream - good to have a GPS track and consult it when exiting the ford.

Leaving the river behind, the trail continues in the flat river valley, on good trail through all the willows. The trail heads straight to the ridge ahead. At the 0.4 mile mark, the trail reaches switchbacks, and climbs up the ridge for the remaining 1.2 miles of this trail, that is in the old, now regenerating burn area of the 2008 New Fork fire. These switchbacks are quite civilized and the views get better and better, as one climbs.

After a total of 1.6 miles, New Fork/Doubletop Cutoff ends at the Doubletop Mountain Trail #7131, where most people continue on to hike the spectacular Doubletop Mountain Trail #7131.

The river valley is covered with grasses and patches of thick willows. The river has fish, including Kokanee salmon that spawn in September, quite a sight to see.

Switchbacking out of the river valley, the trail is in the burn area of the 2008 New Fork fire. The burn area is a regenerating forest with young pines, grasses, and a lot of deadfall - the burnt trees.