Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Staircase Rapids
Featured In:
Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula,
by Craig Romano.
A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails. The trek to Staircase Rapids is a heck of a lot easier today than it was in 1890 when Lieutenant Joseph O'Neil, accompanied by a group of scientists, led an army expedition here. The O'Neil Party was intent on traversing the Olympic Peninsula. Lacking the wonderful trails that now grace the region, O'Neil and company cut a mule trail up the North Fork Skokomish River to help transport supplies to base camps along the way. Among the many findings that this expedition would report was a realization that this wild area deserved to be protected. In his trip report O'Neil wrote that the Olympic interior would serve admirably as a national park. Nice forward thinking, Lieutenant O'Neil-I salute you. From the main parking area, cross the North Fork Skokomish on a solid bridge to begin this hike, which follows part of the original O'Neil Mule Trail. Immediately pass a side trail that leads left to the small hydro plant that powers the ranger station. About 0.1 mile beyond, pass another side trail. This path leads to what was once an incredibly large cedar. Today it leads to an incredibly large windfall. The old cedar yielded to a winter storm in the late 1990s. A few more minutes of gentle hiking delivers you to the riverbank. As you begin marching up the valley, a series of roaring rapids and frothing falls awaits you. Follow the thundering river from one mesmerizing spot to another. At 0.8 mile is a junction. The trail right leads to a bridge that has been out since the mid-1990s. If the Park Service ever gets the funding to replace it, the bridge will once again provide a nice loop option. Meanwhile, ask Congress how they find billions of dollars for boondoggles but not a few thousand for trails. Continue your hike up the river valley on the much quieter and less-used Four Stream Trail. Soon come to Beaver Flats, a nice spot to soak your feet in the refreshing river. Next, pass through a forest of silver and charred snags, thanks to a wildfire created by a careless camper in the late 1980s. New greenery is growing in, so the views of Mount Lincoln rising over the valley won't be around much longer. Emerging back in mature forest, the trail follows alongside a much calmer river. At 2 miles the trail drops down to Four Stream, which for most of the year is too high, cold, and fast to ford. The trail doesn't go much farther anyway, making this a good spot to turn around.
Driving Directions:
From Shelton travel north on US 101 for 15 miles to Hoodsport. Turn left (west) onto State Route 119, proceeding 9.3 miles to a T intersection with Forest Road 24. Make a sharp left. In 1.7 miles the pavement ends. Continue on a good gravel road (FR 24) and in 3.7 miles come to a junction. Turn right and drive 1.2 miles to the Staircase Ranger Station. Trailhead parking is on your right, across from the campground. Water and privies available. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns
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What a perfect short hike! I've posted photos of some of the magnificant scenery on this trail.
No one else...
What a perfect short hike! I've posted photos of some of the magnificant scenery on this trail.
No one else on the trail but us. With the deciduous leaves gone, you get even better views of the river from the trail. We continued beyond the old Staircase Loop bridge site for the additional 1.2 miles to where the four stream trail has to cross a deep stream (no thanks in December, hahaha!) There are a few challenging downed trees to crawl under or over, but not too bad. The Beaver Burn area had some nice views of surrounding ridges you can't see in the summer. Day hike
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Fall foliage
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Today's weather was very rainy. The trail was well maintained, but by the end we did more walking in...
Today's weather was very rainy. The trail was well maintained, but by the end we did more walking in puddles than dry land. We passed a few people on the trail, but the rain seemed to keep most folks away. Will have to come back & check this trail out again in the summer. This would be a good, easy hike for kids.
Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Bridge out | Mud/Rockslide | Water on trail
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Cloudy, 63 degrees. Perfect hiking weather. Very high flows. No snow on trail. About 200 feet of trail covered by...
Cloudy, 63 degrees. Perfect hiking weather. Very high flows. No snow on trail. About 200 feet of trail covered by blowdown, but easily skirted on the uphill side. Trail stops abruptly about 300 yards before Four Stream - it slid into the river, not sure how long ago, but it's quite a drop off the edge, and undercut. A way trail skirts the slide, and the main trail resumes. Due to the late hour and fading light, did not ford Four Stream.
Staircase Rapids
— Apr 17, 2011
— Trail Angel
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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The trail is melting out nicely. A little muddy, but that's to be expected. Snow gets deep after Slide Camp...
The trail is melting out nicely. A little muddy, but that's to be expected. Snow gets deep after Slide Camp (3.5 miles in). Postholing is never really that fun, so after going a bit further, we turned back. No tracks in the snow past Slide Camp.
We did see 1 cougar print in a muddy section.
Staircase Rapids
— Oct 02, 2010
— bettilaugh
Day hike
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Staircase Rapids trail is one of those hikes that you choose because you want a beautiful "stroll in the wilderness."...
Staircase Rapids trail is one of those hikes that you choose because you want a beautiful "stroll in the wilderness." The drive is long and the miles short, so be prepared to enjoy the scenary without the expectation of bagging a peak. The hiking guides state that the trail is a 4-miles loop, however, over 10 years ago the bridge was damaged and the loop is no longer a posibility. We met a new ranger at the trailhead and he informed us that the planning is on the way to replace the brige, finally making the trail a loop hike. So our hike yesterday gave us 3.25 miles in and out. We stopped at every possible photo op, the Big Cedar, Dolly's Pool, "the bridge," Beaver's Flat, through the Beaver burn area then finally to a rocky spit on the river for lunch. Although it was cloudy in town, the sun was in full force on our hike. This trail is usually crowded, but in the off season it is a pleasant walk - we ran into maybe 15 people. The ranger also informed us that soon the elk will be coming down so wildlife sighting is a possibility. This area usually closes during the winter but will remain open this year. What an awesome idea for a winter hike. If you want to add more miles to your hike, you can add the North Skokomish trail which goes on for miles and miles with little gain. That trailhead is on the right side of the ranger/information center; Staircase is to the left. After the hike, we went into the town of Hoodsport and had ice cream and coffee at Hoodsport Coffee (open daily). Happy Hiking.
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View of the Skokomish River and hills. (photo by Maria Gudaitis, July 2010)
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