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.