Category: Trail Sign

North Fork Skokomish

Lake Cushman and the North Fork Skokomish Valley

The North Fork Skokomish valley (in the distance, left of center, above) is one of my favorite hiking locations in the Olympic National Park … and a frequent subject in this blog. It’s 12.6 miles (20.3 km) hiking from the trailhead at Staircase Campground to First Divide, the pass between the N Fork Skokomish valley and the Duckabush Valley.

Looking Down the North Fork Skokomish Valley

The photo above is looking back down the valley from just below First Divide. My longest day hike ever was to First Divide (back in the mid-90’s). My feet were very tired by the time I got back.

First Divide Trail Marker
2

East Fork Quinault Trailhead

East Fork Quinault Trailhead

I recently hiked the first mile or so of the East Fork Quinault Trail, which leaves from near the Graves Creek Campground in the Olympic National Park. I have hiked the trail a number of times, but not as many as the North Fork Quinault Trail. I have never hiked the Graves Creek Trail … for many years the section between Sundown Pass and Six Ridge was very brushy and seldom maintained. It’s a regret I have. It may be a little beyond my current strength level at this point. Oh well.

Even in the beginning of May, people were hiking into the Enchanted Valley, though. This time of year the snow melt turns mountains on the south side of the valley into an astounding collection of waterfalls. The 27 mile (round trip) hike wasn’t in the cards for this spring. But in our short time on the trail, we met a number of backpackers either hiking in or out … and lots of cars parked at the trailhead.

It’s a wonderful trail through a rainforest valley.

East Fork Quinault Trail 1
East Fork Quinault Trail 2
0

N Fork Quinault Trailhead

National Park Building – North Fork Quinault

The building above is used to store food for pack animals used by trail crews. The North Fork trail is one of the heavier used … it’s often the trail of choice for Scouts getting a 50 mile hike in for a merit badge. The Scouts typical route starts up the Elwha and crosses Low Divide and then down the North Fork. The 44.3 miles (shown on the sign below) to Whiskey Bend is misleading, since for the last number of years the road has been washed out and it’s a 5 mile hike to get there from the Elwha Road.

North Fork Quinault Trailhead Sign
1

Flapjack Lakes Trail Sign

Flapjack Lakes Trail Sign

This is one of my favorite trail signs. It is located at 3.7 miles along the North Fork Skokomish trail … and makes a nice turn around point for a day hike . (The “Tree Huggers” post from a couple days past was taken along this section of trail.) Several times I have been up to Flapjack Lakes (named for their shapes) and once or twice to Gladys Divide and once or twice to Black and White Lakes. Usually if I continue hiking past this point I stay on the North Fork Skokomish Trail. (this is all in the Olympic National Park … and camping at Flapjack Lakes is by reservation only due to the heavy use)

0

Ira Spring Wetlands Trail

Ira Spring Wetlands Trail

During the recent stay at Kalaloch, we took a day hike on the Ira Spring Wetlands Loop Trail. Ira Spring was one of my photo idols growing up as a kid. He and his brother Bob were famous local photographers, and with Harvey Manning, put out a pile of hiking guide books: the 100 Hikes in Western Washington series. Ira was also one of the co-founders of the Washington Trails Association. So I was pleased to be able to hike this trail that was named in his honor. It is located at the beginning of the Bogachiel River trail … just before it enters the Olympic National Park. It is a wild, seldom visited rain forest valley.

Rain Forest Trail
2

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

Up ↑