Summary 
| Difficulty | 2 Beginner-intermediate |
| Length | 4.6 or 4.8 miles round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
6300 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+250, -250 feet |
| Navigation | Marked and groomed trail |
| Time | Half day |
| Season | December through mid-April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Meeks Bay, Homewood |
| Start | Sugar Pine Point State Park on Highway 89, 0.8 mile south of Tahoma. Turn west into the park and follow the road to the entrance station. Immediately past the entrance station turn left and follow the road a short distance to the day use parking lot and trailhead. Do not confuse this, the main part of the park, with the smaller part of the park located on the east side of Highway 89 and slightly farther south. |
Description
Away from the annoying highway and snowmobiles, Sugar Pine Point State Park is a very pleasant place to ski. The General Creek tour, denoted as the Red Trail by the Park's map, is the longest of the winter trails in the park. It can be combined with the Blue Trail loop with little difference in mileage.
On the north side of General Creek the trail is groomed by the park. This tour follows this trail for 2.3 miles to the second bridge across the creek. At this bridge you choose one of two ways to return. You can retrace your tracks thereby making the tour entirely on a groomed trail or you can cross to the south side of General Creek and ski back on a marked but ungroomed trail to the first bridge where you cross back to the groomed trail on the north side.
Sugar Pine Point State Park is open all winter for camping. Hot water and heated restrooms are provided in the campground, which is quiet during the winter months.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 0.4
Elevation change: Nil
From the trailhead (1) follow the groomed trail south and then west for a total of 0.4 mile until you reach a trail junction (2). The Blue Trail is to the north (right).
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 0.4 - 1.0
Elevation change: +50 feet
Continue west (straight) on the groomed trail for 0.6 mile until you reach a trail junction (3). Again to the north is the Blue Trail.
Waypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 1.0 - 1.4
Elevation change: +50, -50 feet
Continue southwest (left) on the groomed trail for 0.4 mile until you reach a trail junction (4). To the southeast (left) is the first bridge across General Creek. You will return from this direction if you make the loop trip.
Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 1.4 - 2.3
Elevation change: +100 feet
Follow the groomed trail southwest (straight) for 0.9 mile until you reach the second bridge (5) across General Creek. In this section you may encounter several other groomed trails. The route you want is the one that parallels the creek to the southwest and has very little elevation change. It should be obvious.
Return via the groomed trail
Return to trailhead
Miles: 2.3 - 4.6
Elevation change: +50, -200 feet
Retrace the route for 2.3 miles back to the trailhead (1) or follow the alternative return route described below.
Return via the south side of General Creek
Waypoint 5 to 6
Miles: 2.3 - 2.5
Elevation change: Nil
Cross the bridge and ski southeast for 0.2 mile until you reach the point where the marked trail turns northeast (6).
Waypoint 6 to 7
Miles: 2.5 - 3.3
Elevation change: -100 feet
Turn northeast (left) and follow the marked trail for 0.8 mile until you reach a trail junction (7). The Green dead-end trail shown on the Park's map continues east (straight) while the General Creek loop tour turns northwest (left) here.
Miles: 3.3 - 3.4
Elevation change: Nil
Turn northwest (left), ski across General Creek on the first bridge and continue for a total of 0.1 mile until you reach a trail junction and the groomed trail (4).
Return to trailhead
Miles: 3.4 - 4.8
Elevation change: +50, -100 feet
Turn northeast (right) onto the groomed trail and retrace the route for 1.4 miles back to the trailhead (1).
