I was over that way today riding dirt bikes....seems the land owner is clear cutting.  How did we get kicked out of there exactly?  I heard about the hikers and the rescuer falling from the cliff, but was the landowner found liable for that?

Yep, that's the one. The waterfall was pretty low, but it would prolly go....bummer there isn't access to the campground anymore. Used to swim down in there a decade ago or so

Here is the deal with The area around Pilchuck Falls. The land between Grandstrom Rd and some point very near the bridge over the creek on river right is private. DNR has an easment through there for their employees only. They cannot grant public access without the owner's permission.

Over the years vandalism, illegal dumping, partying, and a series of accidents have thoroughly pissed off the owners. They have asked the sheriffs office to enforce trespass laws against anyone found on their property. This means whether the gate is open or closed, or whether or not you are just using the road to get to the DNR land. Anyone found in there without the owner's permission will be arrested.

Here is the kicker. According to the local prosecutors office small bodies of water like Pilchuck Creek are not considered navigatable waters and therefore they do not recognize the public's right to use them. I am not aware of any decision they have made specific to Pilchuck Creek (which is why the creek bed itself is still open to boating), but they have a history of making these decisions in favor of private property rights. My understanding is that they base their determinations off a list of navigatable streams the feds made in the era of the old steam paddle wheelers. I believe this particular issues is ripe for AW or WKC to go in and negotiate access for boaters. However if people try to poach access and provoke the landowners it will almost certainly get both the upper and middle runs shut down.

Don't be the guy that ruins it for everybody. Stay off the private property.

Kyle

Edited by Wiggins - 19 Jan 2016 at 11:07pm

It is now from what I gather.....15yrs ago I don't think it was, or maybe it was prior to problems, but I've been riding trails out in the lake Cavanaugh vicinity for 20yrs without anybody ever saying anything to me. A few years back the gate was put up and it is randomly open. I see all kinds of folks parked there and evidently they're doing something in those woods.  I just happened on a fading single track trail that brought me in the back way along the river and down to the campground where I saw a bunch of clearcut activity on the hill up behind it. 

Thanks to all for information