What?! 3-stars? For...nature?…read more Yeah, I did it. If this were a hike in Indiana, or Ohio, or Kansas, it would easily be 5-stars. But, for Washington? Home to THREE National Parks, the largest glaciers in the lower 48, temperate rainforests, and hundreds of miles of coastline? Nah. This is an A-OK hike. It goes to a lake surrounded by forested hills. It looks like many lakes in WA and OR that are surrounded by forested hills. There aren't sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, there aren't craggy cliffs overhead. There's lots of forest, and a pretty big lake. If you're super into lakes and trees, you'll dig this. But, you can find prettier lakes (Flapjack Lakes) via Staircase: https://www.yelp.com/biz/staircase-area-olympic-national-park-hoodsport And you can find prettier forests via Hoh River Trail: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hoh-rain-forest-visitor-center-forks If you're more into mountains and scenic vistas, Ellinor is much more rewarding and relatively close-by: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mount-ellinor-hoodsport SIDEBAR: this is the trailhead you climb "The Brothers" from. I can't really recommend climbing this mountain. The trail starts to fizzle out past Lena Lake and eventually becomes a full-on bushwhack. Route finding starts to take more time than actually moving. You'll second guess your every move, mutiny will be in the back of the mind for you and your comrades. The route up the mountain is also kind of winding and confusing. In early season, watch out for avalanches! One of our people got swept away by one while on this mountain, luckily she only had a sprung (It's my mission to make this word the past tense of sprang) ankle.

This hike is perfect for an beginner-intermediate hiker. It's easy to get to & even has a paved…read moreroad up to the trailhead as opposed to the primitive roads often near trailheads. They have vault bathrooms at the beginning of the trailhead near the parking lot. I checked the bulletins and signed the registry and headed up. I instantly noticed a difference from other trails I've been on in that the majority if not all the trail is shaded so even though it was like 85+ degrees when I went, it felt much cooler and there was even a breeze at times so the heat/sun wasn't an annoyance. The trail is a general medium uphill travel. I loved that it was gradual and not just a sharp incline with a huge amount of switchbacks like other trails. It's only about 1200-1300 elevation gain total. This trail allowed me to pace myself and not stop too much to take a breath. I was able to just keep going. I also liked that the trail was wide enough in most places where 2-3 people and pass each other at one time as opposed to having to yield. I also liked that even though I went on a Saturday around 10:45am the trail was practically empty. Such a difference from the trails near Snoqualmie and North Bend. Nobody appears to want to come down toward the Hood Canal to hike. You can hear the water throughout your trek uphill so it's a relaxing hike....is that even possible? I had seen a wooden sign about a mile before the lake that said Lena Lake but what I didn't notice was the word Upper in front of Lena Lake. I actually passed the lake because I didn't see the lookout point to my right and I actually went another 1.5 miles before my intuition told me to stop. Upper Lena lake is about another 7-8 miles past Lower Lena Lake, and I was definitely not ready for that plus the hike down. I will say that the bugs get a lot worse the higher up you go, or at least they did for me. I passed two huge wasp/hornet nests and they just don't leave you alone no matter how much you swat. I also ran into some friendly grouses. No bears or mountain lions this time thankfully. Anyway, on the way back down to the lake I went off the trail a bit toward Lena Creek and there were a lot of campers and people filling up their water. You can also cross a log bridge which I believe takes you to the Brothers trail. FYI: The lake is on your right about 3.5 miles up from the trailhead. Then if you want, you can trek a mile or two down hill to get closer to the ground level of the lake as opposed to peering out over it on the rocks. My hiking app kept telling me the lake is called Olympic National Forest Pond. There were a few rowdy tubers on the lake that were disturbing the peace of the outdoors, but to each his own. Overall though, I will definitely be doing this trail again as it was the perfect length and also has the nice treat of the lake once you get to the end. Definitely take a reasonable amount of water (I took 1.5 Liters) and some food/snacks and even some swimwear. Please take your trash and doggie doo bags out with you. I did notice a few spots where there was dog feces directly on the trail or doo bags throw into the ground cover. Be a responsible dog owner please. Also as of 8/20, there were some downed logs laying across some of the Upper Lena Lake trail so you may need to crawl and climb over wet/muddy areas if you go up further.

One of my new favorite state parks! We camped here for the weekend, just my best friend, our dog,…read moreand I. We had a tent space practically on the river. I love the set up of this place, a big space for gatherings, and smaller spaces for little tents like us. It's on a perfect spot of the river, shallow and not rushing. It also had wonderful hiking trails. The bugs weren't even too bad with being so close to the water! We also happened to be there the same weekend as the Reptile Lady, she was awesome! The rangers were all very friendly and easy to talk to.

One of my new favorite state parks! We booked a tent site near the bathrooms in the site 64-69 loop…read morewhich was perfectly shaded by beautiful trees, spacious, and included a paved driveway for our vehicle, space for multiple tents, a picnic table, and a fire pit. There were neighbors on both sides but it by no means felt crowded. The grounds and bathrooms are very well maintained and the staff was friendly. Looking forward to staying here again!

Information on documents from September 2024…read more Beautiful location. Great for people of all ages.

Finally got up to the Staircase area last week. Great time to visit, although the gorgeous…read morecampground isn't open the trails were practically empty. You have to park near the Lake Cushman day use area, as the road into Staircase is closed for the season. We took the rapid loop trail first. The trail was fun, not too muddy, and an easy 2 1/2 miles including the short out & back to the big cedar. The trees are beautiful and the waters crystal clear. We also decided to take the Shady Lane Trail, just to take a different trail back to the van and day use. This trail was nice, but it wasn't in quite as good of shape right now. The lake was lovely too. We enjoyed a nice lunch at the day use, and got gorgeous aerial pics of its clear waters and massive boulders. The Staircase area is just beautiful. While I would've loved to stay at the campground, I prefer the peacefulness of the trails at this time of year.

I have a tough time giving nature any less than 5 stars, ya know? I don't get a few of the other…read morereviews but maybe we are just out for different experiences. My two kiddos (8 and 4) and I were looking to get out of the house and into the woods for a bit so we came out to finally see this stump house. Parking is a small dirt lot on the side of the road. Cross over and there are marked trailheads. There are two trails down. One is sawmill trail which will take you all the way down to the beach (once closer to the beach the drop off is quite steep and trail very narrow.) and the other trail spits you out onto a gravel road. You can continue on the gravel road down to the beach or walk a hundred feet or so and take the sawmill trail. We took the gravel road down and I couldn't help but feel like I might be on private property because at the top of the trail it said to keep on trail because of private property. BUT once we got down we realized that yes, this road does take one to the private property but that it's permitted for park goers to use the road as well. One car came down as we were walking and parked to make their way down to the beach. There really isn't a dedicated area to park here, just a turn around spot so maybe plan to drop off if you go this route. And your car needs to be out an hour or two before sunset or you get locked in. There was a fellow yelling for the car owners as we were on our way back but they were nowhere to be found. Once you get down to the beach access point there is a detailed map to see the entire layout of the park and trails. You cross over a little bridge and to your right is the beach and to the left is the stump house. The access point was flooded so rain boots were a must. The water and mud was about ankle deep in the more shallow areas. It's doable. Don't let a little water stop you. From the bridge we went left in search of the stump house and found it in about five minutes of walking the trail. A cute little stump, hollowed and some fixings nailed up to make it took like a home. Inside there's a book to sign your name and maybe add a quote or story. Also, a treasure box to leave something behind. It was a really cool spot for the kids. We headed back after this as it was getting late. So I cannot speak for the beach area. We'll get to that next time. We took the trailhead to the left this time. There's an old, gutted house that's surely to fall to pieces soon at the head of the trail. This trail is extremely steep and while it was more serene than the gravel road it was a workout. Overall, it's a great little hike for the entire family. We even saw a bald eagle. Note: there are no restrooms or running water.

I loved this place! Absolutely stunning trail. It's tucked away and you don't hear any cars going…read moreby to distract you. I went on a gorgeous sunny day for a trail run and was not disappointed. It really is gorgeous. The trail is tight and offers lots of turns and ups and down and be careful of the ruts sticking up so you don't trip. If you follow it down to the beach and stump house, it's steep. nothing crazy but let's just say I ran down but there was no way I was running back up lol. Oh and stay off Ridge trail. It's very over grown and closed due to a previous storm. I forgot I saw a hand written not on the trail sign and went on it later‍. I went March 5 2018 and it was closed then.

Fun, easy hike. This little gem is worth visiting. This is a privately owned tree farm. The owners…read moreof this beautiful property, have graciously allowed us access to enjoy. We hiked from the parking lot to the falls using a very well manicured trail system. Lots of areas to stop and take photos, most of the trail system is covered by huge trees providing tons of shade from the elements. If you don't want to hike the trails, you have the option to walk all the way up to the falls using a service road. I'd say ok for parents with littles and definitely recommend bringing your dog. We spent a few hours hiking here.

We loved this easy and fun path. It was an easy hike for the whole family. Many paths if you want…read moreto continue after the falls. It was not too busy during the week but can see it could get busy during the weekend. Easy access to parking which is a plus!

Nothing like walking along the beaches of the PNW and seeing otters, seals, and eagles. Beautiful…read moreviews across the Sound to Seattle, Everett and the gorgeous mountain ranges on a clear day. There's the beach entry and then the wood trail from the south. Both are easily accessible but the beach has more parking. I'm still awaiting the day we walk and there's orcas swimming by with some humpbacks.

I love this park and lighthouse! The view is amazing of the mountains and of Puget Sound and if you…read moreare here at the right time you can see the big cargo ships making slow, gradual turns further into Puget Sound as they are heading to the ports of the larger cities off from the Sound like Seattle or Tacoma. It's also quite peaceful and just a great place to chill out. The beach is pebbly but it's still beautiful. In fact it may be even more beautiful because it is pebbly. I don't know if it's still there but there was a structure made out of wood probably a few beach combers made and it was cool to take a peek inside there too. Anyway I love Puget Sound and have seen it from all kinds of different angles but I think this spot is one of my favorites if not my favorite at the top of the list. The lighthouse is cute, a nice white painted building with red roof. Not terribly tall or towery like some lighthouses but beautifully maintained regardless. Definitely a stop to make if you enjoy lighthouses and absorbing the water and nature of Puget Sound.

Generally my family heads out to Lake Chelan and i was invited out to visit at Lake Cushman this…read moresummer. There are so many beautiful pockets to take in the views & nature'The drive in is beautiful and not too far out, depending where you're staying (vacation residence, campgrounds). Beautiful lake, cold temperatures due to it being a glacier lake - the water is so clear ! Would love to go on some hikes and spend more time out there. Im so grateful that theres so much to see and do in out here in the pnw!

Stunning. Just a really beautiful lake and surrounding forest, like so much of the national park…read more Swimming is good here but be brave for the cold water. There are 3 boat ramps. Camping and fishing are permitted.

Updates: Camping is…read moreclosed for all of 2017 due to trees falling. We checked it around August and the falls were quite reduced. It was still a neat experience!

While driving along the Hood Canal and passing through the Olympic National Forest's eastern…read morepanhandle, give your legs a stretch and take advantage of rejuvenating views. Falls View is a campground, however, it also offers a waterfall that cascades into the Big Quilcene River. Unlike many other places in the park, entrance is free. Since this is also a campsite there is a fee of $10 if you choose to stay the night. This is a second-growth forest canyon among spring blooming rhododendrons, lilies, and honeysuckle. Two short trails for the price of one: -Fallsview Loop Trail: This is a short jaunt for all ages interested in beautiful views. It loops back around to the start of the trail. The distance is only 0.1 miles and elevation is 440 feet. I highly recommend it for a photo opportunity! -Fallsview Canyon Trail: This trail takes you from the Falls View down to the floor of the canyon. Unfortunately, the trail does not bring you to the base of the falls to bathe or get a view from below. Instead, you're greeted with the bustling Big Quilcene River which has carved the canyon over hundreds of years. The trail quickly dips 200 feet of elevation in 0.1 mile. Keep in mind that grades are up to 10-20% in some spots and what you go down, you must come up. After 0.5 miles, there is a deceptive separate trail that splits leftward, but it's the end/beginning of the same trail which loops back around. The entire trail is 1.5 miles and in very good condition and maintained by the Mount Rose Trail Crew. Directions: From Quilcene, WA, travel 3.5 miles south on U.S. Highway 101. Falls View Campground is located on west side of U.S. Highway 101. If it is during the winter, you can park outside the gate and walk in (refer to image). Take a quick left and continue forward past the campground and picnic area. Fallsview Canyon Trail starts left of the parking area and goes downhill to the river. Fallsview Loop Trail's entrance is just to the right of that.