What’s a river? What’s a stream or creek? The amount of water doesn’t tell the whole story. Where on the river are you? These photos were taken in the Olympic National Park, so they aren’t long rivers or creeks, but they can carry a lot of water, especially in winter.
The image above shows the Duckabush River over 20 miles up the valley from the mouth. The location is where the Duckabush River Trail crosses the river (via ford) and starts the climb to Marmot Lake and then up to O’Neil Pass.
The photo below is Home Sweet Home Creek just about where it enters the Duckabush River, adding to its volume. This creek runs down from First Divide … the pass between the Duckabush Valley and the North Fork Skokomish. There is no bridge crossing this stream … go rock hopping or wade, your choice.
Thanks Allan – these are beautiful photos. The second one, of Home Sweet Home Creek, reminds me of the creek through Fern Canyon at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in Northern California. It runs from near the beginning of the trailhead, near the campgrounds deep in the Redwoods, through the entire canyon, out to the coast at Gold Bluff Beach. Sometimes it is just a trickle, but other times it looks just like Home Sweet Home. If you have never been there it is worth the drive down. It is just a little below the Oregon border off of Highway 101 between Crescent City and Arcata off the Drury Scenic Parkway..
The trail walls along the creek through Fern Canyon rise 30-40 feet in some areas and are just covered with ferns on old-growth redwoods as well as the walls. There are 2 herds of Roosevelt elk – the meadow herd (which will happily visit your campsite if you stay in the prairie area, and the beach herd that you can see when you exit the canyon out onto the coast.
Anyway kid, thanks for sharing… these photos brought back some great memories.
Thanks, Lynne.
Fern Canyon sounds beautiful…
If I go through that part of CA, I’ll make a point of visiting.
Lovely Rivers and Streams!