These photos were taken from the Graves Creek Bridge on the East Fork Quinault trail in the Olympic National Park. I thought the difference between the two was interesting … you just wouldn’t likely think the photos were taken the same spot. The difference between the two ‘sides’ is purely a result change in gradient … there isn’t any dam or blockage below this point on the creek.
Trail maintenance has suffered for years … some trails get brushy or have trees that have fallen across the track. Depending on the ‘importance’ of the trail, maintenance may go waiting for years. Trails are a valuable and limited resource and should be protected from neglect. All of these trails are in the Olympic National Park … and show different levels of maintenance. The top image shows a meadow area where the trail has almost disappeared: it is a rarely used section. The middle image shows a trail that gets regular maintenance due to heavy use. The third image shows yours truly on a trail that gets very heavy use … and regular maintenance.
Towards the upper end of the Enchanted Valley Trail up the East Fork Quinault Trail in the Olympic National Park is Anderson Pass. Across the pass is the West Fork Dosewallips valley and trail. This is a heavily used combination allowing a fairly easy crossing of the park. Mt Anderson it the central peak in the image here with Anderson Glacier. This view is from a spot still a couple miles below Anderson Pass.
If you are hiking to the Enchanted Valley on the East Fork Quinault River in the Olympic National Park, O’Neil Creek Camp is a nice easy mid-way camp at 6.7 miles (10.8 km). The river has wandered back and forth across the valley and there are nice sandy spots and fewer mosquitoes on the river bed than you find under the trees where the campsites are located. You can play with the rocks (or enjoy the work of others who have) or, if you’re lucky, watch the elk.
The Enchanted Valley Trail runs up the East Fork Quinault River valley in the Olympic National Park. It is one of the most heavily used trails in the park. The big attraction for hikers is in the spring and early summer when they hike in to see the abundant water falls (some claim a thousand) flowing off the ridge to the north side of the valley as the snow melts out of the high country. In the summer, many hikers cross the Olympics using the North Fork Quinault trail up to Anderson Pass and then continuing on the West Fork Dosewallips trail. Below is one of the many stream crossing.
