Over-the-Hill Hike Descriptions -- Mar, 2026
Fri, Mar 13 Elwha to Whiskey Bend [Mod to Diff] 9-13 / 900'-1363' ride-$5
Hike goes from Madison Falls parking lot & on the closed Elwha River Rd./Bypass Trail; past the Elwha Ranger Station, & then up along Whiskey Bend Rd. to the dam. Proceed further to Windy Arm & up to the end of Whiskey Bend Rd. & to the Whiskey Bend T.H.
Wed, Mar 18 Dungeness Trails from River Road [Easy] 6 / 300'-500' Discover ride-$3
There are a total of about 10-15 miles of multi-use trails and routes in this ~400-acre, multi-use area off of River Rd. & Happy Valley Rd. on DNR & also on some tribal land. The hike will include 6 miles of winding trails in the forest, along irrigation canals and down to the Dungeness River.
Fri, Mar 20 Smokey Bottom - Boulder Creek◆︎ [Easy to Mod] 11-11.4 / 1016'-1154' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$5
Hikers depart from Madison Falls along the old roadbed and bypass up to Glines Canyon Dam, which is ~ 3.75 miles. The Smokey Bottom Trail departs just west of the dam along the shoreline and in the old Lake Mills lakebed. Spring (late May) is a good time to see some native flowers that were planted during the Elwha Revegetation Project like lupine, Nootka roses, Oregon sunshine, etc.
Wed, Mar 25 Striped Peak [Easy to Mod] 7 / 850' n/a ride-$5
Go to the Striped Peak @ 1,166’ (not a real peak but a high prominence), on a newly built trail in this County Park and 1500-acre DNR area. There are also fabulous views of Crescent Bay, towards Vancouver Island across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, etc. One might even get to see Mt. Baker! https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/striped-peak
Fri, Mar 27 Cascade Rock◆︎ [Mod to Diff] 5-6 / 1736'-2110' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$5
Hike leaves the Madison Falls area and uses the Bypass Trail to get to the trailhead, which starts just less than a mile from Madison Falls. Ascend high above the Elwha River Valley. Will go through old-growth forest and some madronas. Reach a ledge at ~ 900' & may get views over to Mt. Baldy. Steadily climb and then get to a mossy basalt ledge at ~ 1,825' & the official trail end. Limited views but a good workout!
Over-the-Hill Hike Descriptions -- Apr, 2026
Wed, Apr 1 Heart of the Forest◆︎ [Easy to Mod] 5-5.5 / 650'-850' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$5
This is a pleasant nature trail leaving from Loop "E" in the Heart of the Hills Campground @ ~ 1,400'. It offers beautiful, old-growth trees, plenty of fern varieties, and other flora in a rainforest-type ecosystem. While hiking on this trail, carefully cross puncheon walkways, as they can be slippery. Hikers go to a big, fallen tree above Lake Creek, which makes a good turn-around point before leaving the Natl. Park boundary.
Fri, Apr 3 Dungeness Spit / New Dungeness Lighthouse [Easy to Mod] 10.5-11.5 / 140'-167' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$3
Walk down ~ 1/2 mile from parking at the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge to the beach & walk on the spit to the New Dungeness Lighthouse for ~ 5 miles. We plan accordingly to walk/hike at the best minus tide. This is a "must do", if you haven't done it already; or make it an annual tradition!
Wed, Apr 8 OAT--Joyce-Piedmont E. [Easy to Mod] 6-8.8 / 900'-1100' Discover ride-$7
We go East on the Olympic Adventure Trail (OAT) to the 2nd Bench/Picnic Table or to the Joyce Access Logging Road.
Fri, Apr 10 Heather Park / Pass◆︎ [Mod to Diff] 8.4-10 / 3600'-3950' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$5
Hike starts at same parking lot as the Lake Angeles hike. Trail climbs a steep ridge; passes 1/2-Way Rock (not quite 1/2 way) @ 2.2 mi.! Pass an old stone fireplace structure built in 1938 (Heather Park Forest Camp) on a side trail @ 5,300'. Go through a sub-alpine, heather basin known as Heather Park @ ~ 4.1 mi. w/creek and campsites. Go by a prominent pinnacle known as 2nd Top. Make final climb to Heather Pass for good views of the Strait and Mt. Olympus.
Wed, Apr 15 Steam Donkey / Maple Valley Trails [Easy to Mod] 3.5-6 / 440'-600' Discover ride-$7
Relatively easy hike from the Dosewallips State Park Campground near Brinnon. Goes through woods, over streams like Phantom Creek, and also along a trail, Steam Donkey named for equipment used in logging days. If tide permits, can go under 101 & walk out towards tidal flats & viewing from an observation tower. If fortunate, might see spawning salmon & maybe even some elk! https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-c96c08f-22
Fri, Apr 17 Old/Lower Gray Wolf◆︎ [Easy to Mod] 7-8.5 / 900'-1250' NW Forest/Golden ride-$3
Distance will be dependent upon which trailhead is used and if the Cat Creek Loop (~ 1.4 mi.) is used. Enjoy this hike along/near the Gray Wolf River with its many features. One comes down to the river 2-3 times at Two-Mile Camp, Cliff Camp, etc., and also goes up above the river in spots. TH(47.965852050902726, -123.11529467667314). Google maps wrong.
Wed, Apr 22 Waterfalls [Easy to Mod] 5-5.5 / 1000' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$10
Visit 4 waterfalls, which should be at their prime: Falls View (a hiking loop near Mt. Walker), Rainbow Falls across from Mt. Walker, Rocky Brook Falls near Brinnon, a picnic lunch, & then Murhut Falls up the Duckabush. Visit Whitney Gardens in Brinnon on the way home to see the fabulous rhodies. A $1 donation is suggested for visiting the gardens.
Fri, Apr 24 Marmot Pass, Quilcene [Difficult] 11-11.5 / 3490'-3650' NW Forest/Golden ride-$7
This is one of the more difficult, but popular, hikes in the area steadily climbing up to Marmot Pass at ~ 6,000'. There are wonderful views from up on top with a steep, ¾-mile climb up to this point from Camp Mystery. The trail follows the Upper Big Quilcene River, goes by Shelter Rock Camp, leaving the river at Camp Mystery at ~ 4.6 miles and on up the final ascent to Marmot Pass, which "captures what makes the Olympics so special".
Wed, Apr 29 Travis Spit [Easy] 4 / 50'-68' n/a
Some cobblestone beach walk from Panorama Vista County Park on NW corner of Miller Peninsula off E. Sequim Bay Rd. Travis Spit is across from Gibson Spit/Port Williams across WA Harbor and looking at the Battelle Pacific NW National Lab. Views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Protection Island, and sometimes even Mt. Baker! Bring binoculars for bird viewing. May see river otters and various sea creatures. There is limited parking. Please respect private property.
NOTE: As with any hike, do your own research on a particular hike and assess whether it is of your hiking ability. Always carry your Hiking Essentials and do not rely on others to bring them for you. Thank you!
DISCLAIMER: OTHH assumes no collective or individual liability for any mishaps on any of their hikes or outings. Please use discretion and be safe. Please read the Hazards & Liability section on the Home page of the OTHH website and refer to the link given and agree to the conditions set forth in that document.
WILDERNESS HIKE: Any hike with a ◆︎ goes into the Wilderness, so there is a Wilderness Regulation of a limit of 12 in a group. Please honor this and divide up.
EARLY START: Watch for an e-mail from the leader(s) ahead of time indicating what time to meet at the Sequim Public parking lot.