Even been five miles from civilization up to your waist in Devils Club and Vine Maple with nats, horse flys
and no see ums humming around you and sucking the last ounce of your energy and blood from your bruised and battered body? Been too tired to swat the critters and unable to collapse with your pack because the brush is too thick to let you fall down in place? If these memories bring tears to your eyes
and a lump of fear to your mind, then you have been in a bushwack that might qualify for my top five
"Bushwacks" in Washington.
Over my 60+ years of hiking and climbing in the Olympics, and Cascades I've seen a bit of off trail travel, especially during my formulative years of the 50's, 60's and 70's. In my "Golden Years" I have
lots of time to make comparisons and make my five picks for the most "Interesting" (Pain Intensive)
slogs in the state. To qualify these bushwacks have to be over three miles in length, include intense
vegetation, maybe a roaring stream to wade through, some waterfalls, a bit of talus on steep terrain
and lots of bugs. Here is my five picks! Add yours!
1. Upper Suiattle River from end of Suiattle Trail to South of Dome Peak
2. Goodell Creek from end of old logging road to Mt Crowder
3. Stetattle Creek from end of trail to Azure Lake
4. Eureka Creek from Ferguson Lake to Junction with Shellrock Pass Trail (There is no trail despite
continued marking of such on Geological Maps. Trail not maintained since the 60's)
5. Upper Skagit River to Pioneer Ridge
5+ Approach to Luna Pk. from Beaver Trail
5+ Upper Downey Creek from end of trail to basin or Slim Pass.
5+ Upper Queets River to Valhallas
I didn't count bushwacks starting from the Canadian side of the border!

I've been immersed in bushwhacks more times than I can count. They don't call brush Klenke's Element for nothing. But many bushwhacks I've tried to expunge from my memory.

Sjolseth and I chose unwisely coming off of Luahna many moons ago and got into an ocean of alder where we were spending many minutes in a row climbing from branch to branch and not touching the ground.

I've "experienced" a few of those on your list; like #3, though we bailed right to gain the top of the ridge when we encountered the canyon that is Torrent Creek below Elephant Butte. I've looked at doing #2 on your list to get to Pioneer Ridge & Crowder. The bushwhacking concerns me less than the ability to cross the possibly raging creek(s) at key locations.

One of the worst bushwhacks on a "trail" for me was the bygone Panther Creek Trail on the south side of Mt. David. Report here.

If you think bushwhacking in WA is bad, try shwacking some of the chapparal down on the southern Calif. peaks! That stuff has no give to it at all. You can literally do better to get through it if you're double-jointed!

Klenke:
Since I did most of these several years back I was hoping
to find out if with the increased use of the backcountry in
Washington that some of these I picked were now less difficult
due to use. I know that the approach to the South Pickets is
a good example of use creating an easier access.
I have never backpacked or climbed south of Kings Canyon
so have no experience with Southern California conditions. I
stay away from anyplace south of the Grapevine even though
I live in the Central Valley. I detest L.A.!
Northern California's Coast Range and the Trinity Alps have
some classic bushwacks, but most hikers avoid getting off trail
as the weed growers have a tendency to shoot people stumbling
on their growing areas. Even the local police refuse to go there.
They leave it to the Feds to descend by choppers to take out
their plantings.
Interesting fact I have discovered going over my old maps
made by the U.S.G.S and the Forest Service in the 20's and 30's
is that about 50% of all trails in the Northwest have disappeared
between the 1950's and the present. A couple years ago I ran
in to a U.S. Forest Service Trail Crew in Desolation Wilderness
near Lake Tahoe. I asked the Crew Chief how much trail his
eight man crew was responsible for. It worked out to about
a hundred miles of trail. He admitted that all they could do
was keep major trails like the Pacific Crest Trail and its main
feeder trails cleared of downed trees and brush. Other trails
got attention about every five years. Trails that did not take
many hikers just didn't get any attention.

Klenke:
Read your Panther Creek "Trail" experience. Really enjoyed
it! I always carry a pair of water sandals when I go anywhere
where there are numerous stream crossings. My Irish Feet just
won't allow me to go barefoot on rocky surfaces. Even with
trekking poles I need something on my feet.
Unless you like inflicting pain upon yourself go to Mt Crowder
by way of the ridge to Mt Triumph, or go up Baker River to
Pioneer Ridge first. If you go late in summer you can stay
on sandbars or along the river early in the day when water
flow is at its lowest.
Happy trekking!