Note: This hike requires fording Whitepine Creek, which may be difficult during the spring melt. Portions of this trail are brushy and very overgrown and may require some route finding as a result.
Take US 2 out past milepost 78. Before you reach milepost 79, reach the well signed White Pine Road (FR 6950) on your right. Turn right following White Pine Road 3.8 miles as it becomes Whitepine Road to the trailhead at the roads end. View Google Directions >>
Begin from the White Pine Trailhead, following the White Pine Trail #1582 into dark and dense forest (note while Whitepine Creek is one word, the official names of the trailhead and trail use two words). At 2.5 miles reach the junction with the Wildhorse Creek Trail #1592. Veer right toward the sound of the creek, passing a campsite as you walk the few hundred feet to the edge of Whitepine Creek. Use caution fording when the waters are high.
Once across the creek find an old, narrow trail cutting through encroaching vegetation. Avalanche chutes, creek crossings and talus fields offer glimpses of the peaks above and valley below. Press ever onward, pushing brush aside to the 6.0-mile mark and the meadows of Mule Creek Camp.
From Mule Creek Camp, the White Pine Creek Trail continues deeper into the creek valley, eventually climbing up out of the drainage to connect with the Icicle Creek Trail #1551. Find a lovely meadow and camping here, 8.1 miles from the trailhead.There's a lot more to Whitepine Creek, and you can learn all about it in Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Complete Hiking Guide. You'll find a trail map, route descriptions, history, and more for this and many other hikes throughout the State. Help support hikingwithmybrother.com and the work we do by picking up a copy!