Driving:
Drive the Mountain Loop Highway east from Granite Falls to Barlow Pass. Park here if you do not have a key to the gate on the road to Monte Cristo. Hike 4 miles on the road to the Monte Cristo townsite. Money can't buy you love, but it can get you a key to the gate - visit the website of the Monte Cristo Preservation Association for more details - and drive the 4 miles to the townsite instead.

Hiking/Bushwhacking:
The new trail to Poodle Dog Pass starts at the towsite past the Forest Service cabins and the old locomotive turntable. Cross the bridge and continue up past the old ruins of the concentrator. Soon you will come to Sunday Flats and the sign-in for the trail. Take the new trail to Poodle Dog Pass (about 2 miles, 1.5 hours with overnight gear).

From the pass, continue down the deep rut of a trail towards Silver Lake. As you round the meadow, cut down toward the first tarn that you reach. Skirt this tarn and the next ones on the east, until you get to the outflow (which doesn't flow much). At this point, look to to the left and up (east) to bigger trees below a small cliff face. This is where the Silver Creek trail 'starts'. Just below the branches of some larger trees, you should find the trail. The trail down to the hanging valley is rough but easy to follow. Once at the bottom, one can leave the trail and roam in the flat of the valley. The trail continues down Silver Creek to the lower reaches of the valley.