This hike is from the Stehekin side. You can do it from Thunder Creek Trailhead in the Colonial Creek Campground also. We base camped at the family cabin near the Bakery. We had use of a vehicle, but I am giving the stats as if you have to start where the shuttle drops you off at High Bridge. Be sure to check the shuttle schedule and have exact change - currently $8 one way. The first five miles is on the PCT and has some uphill but gentle. You have to have permits to camp anywhere in the National Park - you can obtain them up to 24 hours before your trip starts. Bridge Creek is a nice campground - clean, nice sites, potties, water sources. We hiked beyond Bridge Creek on the old Road about 2.75 more miles to Park Creek Trailhead. We hiked up five miles to Five Mile Camp which we had all to ourselves so we chose the primo spot by the creek with a view of Buckner. Fires were still allowed at this point in the summer. Total for the day about 13 miles with 2500 gain.
The following morning we got up and did most of the pack up; then headed up to Pass while still cool. The trail is quite overgrown from this point - maintenance seemed to have been done to the Camp and no further. It was mostly wildflowers which was a treat to see, but it did slow us down as hard to see our feet. Passed Buckner Camp which appeared to just be in the woods with no views; then the trail gets down to business going up 2000 miles in about 2 miles. We passed a lovely gorge with waterfall and came out of forest to gorgeous meadow. Nice views of Booker and Buckner. No camping is allowed in the Park Creek Pass area. You could not camp at Pass as just boulders - fantastic views both directions! Windy at the Pass so we soaked in views about 20 minutes before moving down to enjoy the meadows. We saw marmots on our way back down. Total gain that day: 2200 and 3800 loss from Pass to TH/Camp.
On the way down, we met one person in camp - he looked wiped out. He had camped at Bridge Creek the night before. Two others came in from the Thunder Creek side. We took two hours back down to Park Creek Camp. There were two other parties there who left super early in the morning, but we did not hear them over the river. Final morning we hiked back out the road and PCT. It's an easy couple of hours - plan on three to give yourself enough time to catch the shuttle you intend to get.
Dave's GPS Track