Skyline Trail and Fourth Crossing Loop

The Trail
This easy trail is about 2.2 miles long (round trip) with about a 405 foot elevation change. This trail starts at the Paradise Visitor Center, heads uphill to Myrtle Falls, heads along the side of Mount Rainer, goes back down on the Fourth Crossing Trail, and then follows the one way scenic drive back down to the Visitor Center.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The first part of this trail is paved and generally crowded as it goes up to the 72 foot high Myrtle Falls. This waterfall is about a half mile up the trail. A steep path goes down to a nice viewpoint of the falls, and the main trail continues up and over a bridge above the falls.

Myrtle Falls

Looking down at Myrtle Falls from the bridge

 

The trail starts to descend after Myrtle Falls and quickly becomes less crowded.  There are some terrific views of the Tatoosh Range from along the trail.

Nice view of the Tatoosh Range

Peaks from left to right: The Castle, Pinnacle Peak, Plummer Peak

About 0.9 miles from the trailhead, the trail crosses a creek. There isn't a bridge here, and there aren't well placed stepping stones either. That was apparently enough to deter most other hikers while we were there; we didn't see anyone else after crossing until we reached the road.

Creek across the trail

0.2 miles later (1.1 miles from the Visitor Center) the Skyline Trail intersects with the Fourth Crossing Trail. We turned down this trail and followed it down to the road below. This 0.3 mile section of trail follows another creek to the road. It was covered with snow in places and quite muddy in many other spots, but it was also incredibly beautiful! There were little rapids and waterfalls along the creek all the way down.

The walk along the road back to the Visitor Center was about 0.8 mile long, and it also offered us beautiful views and waterfalls along the way.

Directions
This trail is located in Mount Rainier National Park in the Paradise Area. To get there from the west side of the park, take WA-107 to the Paradise Area. If you are coming from the east side, take US-12 to WA-123, or take WA-410 into the park.

Hoh Rain Forest Trail to Tom's Creek

The Trail
This easy trail is about 2.9 miles long (one way) with only a 182 foot elevation change. This trail is the main trail out of the Hoh Rain Forest area, and actually runs 17.3 miles long. However, Tom's Creek is probably the first landmark along the trail and has a little waterfall along it. Unfortunately, we did not have time to go further than this.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail dives into the Hoh Rain Forest and follows the Hoh River fairly closely. It is a lush green area in which the trees are draped with moss. In fact, their branches almost look like soft hairy green arms. They kind of reminded us of the limbs of orangutans.

This is a very wet area, and it rained on us nearly the whole time we were hiking. The trail can be quite muddy in places, or even have standing water on it depending on when you go, so having waterproof boots or shoes may be a real advantage. It is the home to a number of moisture loving creatures, including giant slugs.

The Hoh River possesses a milky blue color caused by glacial flour, which is made of tiny particles that form when a glacier grinds against the bedrock. The bedrock is ground into what looks like a flour, and that is then washed down into the river by melt-off. While this is not toxic, backpackers are advised to not take water for drinking from the Hoh because this glacial flour will clog filters. Hikers and backpackers can use water from tributaries flowing into the Hoh River instead.

I wasn't able go further than Tom's Creek. There is a narrow bridge that crosses the creek, and through the trees, you can see a waterfall. Some say there is a better view of the fall a little way up, but I didn't go up to it.

If you want to go up further, there are some other great destination points you can aim for, such as Five Miles Island (5.3 miles in), Lewis Meadow (about 10.5 miles in), Martin Creek (about 14.75 miles in), Elk Lake (about 15.1 miles in), Glacier Meadows (about 17.3 miles in), and Blue Glacier (about 18.5 miles in - and the end of the trail). A permit is required if you plan to camp along the trail.

Horses are permitted on this trail, but dogs are not.

Directions
This trail is located on the west side of the Olympic National Park in Washington. To get there from US-101, turn onto Upper Hoh Road and follow the road to the end where the visitor's center is. This will take you about 2 hours from Port Angeles, 2 hours 15 minutes from Aberdeen, or about 45 minutes from Forks.

Sol Duc Falls Trail

The Trail
This easy 0.9 mile (one way) trail only has a 117 foot elevation change. As with many other trails in this area, this path runs through beautiful old growth forest all the way to the waterfall.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The waterfall itself is found at a place where the Sol Duc River fans into three streams that crash 50 feet into a crevasse. (Though I have read that sometimes there can be up to four streams that the water channels into and falls from, depending on the volume of water.) The falls are best viewed from a bridge that extends across the crevasse. A rainbow often is visible in the mist from the falls too.

Sol Duc Falls from the bridge

Sol Duc Falls from east side looking toward bridge

This is a very popular trail is is usually crowded. Be aware that finding a parking spot can be challenging at times. Dogs are not permitted on this trail.

Directions
This trail is located in the Olympic National Park in Washington. It is at the north end of the park. To get there from US-101, turn off on on Sol Duc Hot Springs Road and continue to the parking area at the end of this road. This trail is about an hour from Port Angeles. Please note that a fee or pass is required to enter this area.

Marymere Falls Trail

The Trail
This easy trail is 1.3 miles long (one way) with about a 230 foot elevation change. The majority of this elevation change is found in the last 0.3 mile, which is a small loop that circles around to a couple nice views of the falls.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The main trail is shown in yellow above. The green trail shown above starts from the Lake Crescent Lodge, and this trail ends up being the same length as the main trail. This alternative trail follows along Barnes Creek.

The main trail starts at the Storm King Ranger Station. It heads east for a bit before crossing under Hwy 101 through a little tunnel.

After passing through the tunnel, the trail turns and heads back toward Barnes Creek. This is a wide, well maintained trail that transverses through beautiful mossy old growth forest. It is quite flat until it crosses the creeks over a couple bridges and heads up to the two waterfall viewpoints.

The waterfall itself is a picturesque 90 foot tall flow of water framed by brilliant yellow green moss.

Directions
This trail is located about a half hour from Port Angeles, Washington. It is at the north end of Olympic National Park. To get there from US-101, turn off on Lake Crescent Road. When you get to the split in the road, stay right to head toward the ranger station and continue to the parking area. This is also marked as the way to the waterfall. However, as shown on the maps below, it is also possible to start this trail from the lodge and beach area if you decide to go the other way at this fork.

Gatton Creek Trail Loop

The Trail
This easy 3.8 mile (round trip) loop trail has about a 490 foot elevation change. We started this trail from the Quinault Pacific Ranger Station, and headed east on the trail. The elevation graph and maps below reflect that starting point.

Topographical Map (red trail to Cascade Falls)

Graph of Elevation

 

Trail in Google Earth

This entire trail travels through lush green temperate rain forest. It is, after all, a part of the Quinault Rain forest. Dense vegetation covers everything, and new growth springs up directly from fallen trees and rotting logs. This area is frequently overcast, but even when it is not, this trail would be well shaded by the trees overhead.

The trail climbs up the hill about 0.6 mile before it splits. Heading south at this fork (marked in red on maps above) will take you to Cascade Falls. We took this side trail to see the fall, and it added 0.4 mile (there and back to the other trail) and an extra 45 foot elevation change to our hike.

Cascade Falls (above the trail)

Cascade Falls (below the trail)

This trail can be wet and muddy in places. After all, it is in a  rain forest. Boardwalks and bridges keep hikers out of the deep water, but don't be surprised if you hit additional mud on the trail.

About 1.4 miles up the trail (excluding the turn off for Cascade Falls), there is a turn-off that goes down to another loop. This loop goes around and through a very large fallen tree.

Fallen tree seen on little separate loop along the trail

Gatton Creek

Continuing on another 0.4 mile past this little loop will take you to Gatton Creek.  From there the trail turns sharply and follows the creek down toward Lake Quinault. At the end of the trail, we turned and followed the road back down to the Ranger Station. This jaunt along the road turned out to be a pleasant walk that followed just inland from the edge of the lake.

View of Lake Quinault from the road

A wide variety of delicious edible berries grow wild in the rainforest here: blackberries, huckleberries, blueberries, salmon berries, thimble berries... Not all the berries are edible though. If you decide to try a berry, just make sure you know what kind of berry you are eating first.

Blackberries

Blueberries

Thimble berries

Salmon berries

Huckleberries

There is also plenty of interesting fungi growing in the forest, if you are into that sort of thing.

This trail is open to leashed dogs whose owners clean up after their pets. There are bathrooms available in the area, including at the ranger station when it is opened. Other bathrooms can be found at the lodge and at campgrounds.

Directions
This trail is located in Quinault, Washington. It is not actually located within the Olympic National Park, but it is on the southern end of this park and is surrounded by it. You can reach this area from US-101. When coming from the south, turn right onto 93400/S Shore Rd to get there. When coming from the west, turn left onto 9, and then turn left onto 93700/S Shore Rd.