Over-the-Hill Hike Descriptions -- April, 2025
Wed, Apr 2 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 4 Lena Lake [Easy to Mod] 6.5-7.5 / 1450'-1630' NW Forest/Golden ride-$7
This is a popular hike, as it is relatively short to Lower Lena Lake but with a large, sub-alpine lake as a destination. Enjoy lunch at a large picnic rock overlooking the lake or at a couple of campspots beyond. Climb some long, flat switchbacks to get to the lake. After lunch, we may proceed on a loop towards The Brothers Trail passing campsites and then return back to the trail on a loop
Wed, Apr 9 Larry Scott Trail--Milo Curry [Easy] 7.3-7.5 / 350'-400' Discover ride-$5
Can go from Milo Curry T.H. near 4-Corners to Cape George off of Discovery Rd. near Port Townsend and return while passing through horse country and pleasant surroundings! The Larry Scott Trail is to be the beginning of the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) and is also part of the Pacific N.W. Scenic Trail! Total Larry Scott Trail is ~7.3 mi. one way. It is named for a Port Townsend resident and cycling enthusiast who played an important part in the trail.
Fri, Apr 11 Tunnel Creek / Valhalla [Mod to Diff] 9.5-10.5 / 2650'-3018' NW Forest/Golden ride-$7
Hike is out of Quilcene going steadily up along Tunnel Creek to the Tunnel Creek Shelter @ ~3 mi. & a gain of ~ 1,300'. Cross Tunnel Creek and start climbing up to Harrison Lake & to 5050 Pass. There are a couple of short, technical rocky sections. Can stop at "Lunch Rock" for its incredible view of Mt. Constance and Valhalla; or those wishing to go further, can scramble up to Valhalla--another 20 min. of ~ .3 miles and 350’-400’ where you can be looking directly at Mt. Constance.
Wed, Apr 16 Discovery Bay Trail--Diamond Point [Easy] 4 / 291'-390' Discover ride-$5
Easy hike off of Diamond Point Road off of Miller Peninsula. Out-and-back. Takes about 1-1/2 hours to complete. Or we can do the Diamond Point Loop Trail, which is shorter. Get a viewpoint over Discovery Bay. Very limited parking. Please carpool.
Fri, Apr 18 Barnes Creek [Mod to Diff] 7.5-9 / 1640'-2000' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$5
Pass turn-off to Marymere Falls @ about 3/4 mi. & proceed up the valley along Barnes Creek, crossing 3 bridges and some old-growth, giant trees. At ~ 3.75 miles, pass Dismal Draw Camp and proceed on up to the Aurora Divide junction at ~4-1/2 miles and @ 2,050', which is a good turn-around point. Views of Mt. Storm King.
Wed, Apr 23 Boundary Trail to Marmot Loop from Deer Park Rd. [Easy to Mod] 7.1-7.6 / 457'-648' Discover ride-$5
This hike borders DNR land and Olympic Natl. Park land off of Deer Park Rd. Do and out-and-back going to Marmot Loop off of Blue Mt. Rd. and return back to Deer Park Rd. Headwaters of Bagley Creek with ~ 10 shallow stream crossings. W. Hemlock stand.
Fri, Apr 25 Storm King [Mod to Diff] 4.1 / 1831' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$5
Park at the Storm King Ranger Station at Lake Crescent. Proceed towards Marymere Falls. Storm King Trail will be on left. From there it is a climb!
Wed, Apr 30 Waterfalls [Easy to Mod] 5-5.5 / 1000' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$10
Visit ~3-4 waterfalls, which should be at their prime: Falls View (a hiking loop near Mt. Walker, Rainbow Falls across from Mt. Walker, then Rocky Brook Falls near Brinnon, perhaps a picnic lunch, & then Murhut Falls up the Duckabush, if time allows. Bonus options are seeing the High Steel Bridge or visiting Whitney Gardens in Brinnon to see the fabulous rhodies. A $1 donation is suggested for visiting the gardens! Choose your carpool accordingly.
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: One hike listed above (Mt. Townsend to Silver Lake) 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 Safeway Gas Station parking lot.