Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Tunnel Creek
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. For nearly 3 miles this delightful trail follows the South Fork Tunnel Creek through a tunnel of towering old-growth hemlocks and fir. The hike is perfect on a misty morning or a sweltering afternoon, as the ancient trees do a good job of regulating the temperature, keeping you either warm or cool. The old but restored shelter at 2.7 miles makes for a good turnaround point. But if you have extra energy, continue farther up the trail. At 0.25 mile you'll cross the cascading creek on a sturdy bridge. Stop to admire its tumbling waters. Now shifting gears, the trail begins to steeply climb 1000 feet, reaching daylight at tiny Harrison Lake. Climb just a little bit more to take in an up-close-and- personal view of Mount Constance's impressive vertical east face. In 0.4 mile from the lake the trail reaches a ridge crest, maxing out at 5050 feet. You can scramble along the rocky ridge a little ways to better appreciate Constance's towering presence.
Driving Directions:
From Quilcene drive US 101 south for 1.5 miles. (From Shelton follow US 101 north for 50.5 miles.) Turn right (west) onto Penny Creek Road. After 1.5 miles bear left onto Big Quilcene River Road (Forest Road 27). Follow it for 3 miles and turn left onto FR 2740, continuing for nearly 7 miles to trailhead. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
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Snow on trail
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We started hiking around 9:30 am. There was snow at the trail head where we parked but once we got...
We started hiking around 9:30 am. There was snow at the trail head where we parked but once we got into the woods it was pretty clear. Once we were about an hour in, we hit ice. We hiked for awhile slipping and sliding our way up (the trail was completely iced over for the remainder of the hike), then decided we had better put on our microspikes. They helped tremendously, I definitely recommend them. We may have turned around had we not had the spikes. We lost the trail about a half a mile from the lake but we were able to work our way to the lake on our own. The lake was completely snowed over. We wanted to see if we could get a view so we decided to go straight up an embankment which was extremely steep but with the spikes and the help from tree roots we were able to get to the top which had an absolutely gorgeous 360 view, with Mt.Constance the neighboring snow capped mountains right behind us. Absolutely gorgeous. Total we did around 8 mi and the trip took us about 4 hours. It was a fairly relaxed hike, only challenge was the ice. With the right gear (mainly traction), I highly recommend this hike right now!
Day hike
Issues:
Water on trail | Snow on trail
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Success!! We made it up Tunnel Creek trail to 5050 Pass to be hit in the face with a stunning...
Success!! We made it up Tunnel Creek trail to 5050 Pass to be hit in the face with a stunning cobalt-gold-green-black-and-white tapestry woven of Mt. Constance and her companions wrapped in pristine snowy cloaks with skirts of evergreens basking in a winter sun. This view is glorious! You get only fleeting glimpses through the trees to tempt you onward. RT 8.5 mi. is well worth it! Even if you don’t reach the Pass, the woods and creek are beautiful and almost always promise solitude.
The road had some potholes and loose rocks after splitting off (from where you’d stay right to Lower Big Quil), but nothing difficult if you’re reasonably prudent. There are a couple snow-ice patches, and the parking area is compact snow and ice. We were the only ones at the trailhead on a sun-drenched Sunday and indeed saw not a soul on road or trail from turning off 101 all the way back to 101. There were tracks of one hiker & canine companion to the shelter, then it was all pristine snow. The trail is in good condition except a few drainage issues, and we did remove several branches that had recently come down. Even trackless and snowy the trail is easy to follow until about 1/3 mile to the lake where it’s anyone’s guess and lots of postholing through snowy woods. Starting soon after the bridge, extra traction is almost a necessity for safety, and certainly for any speed as there is a lot of ice and some traversing on the switchback portion (last mile). Micro-spikes were perfect. At this point, snowshoes are not needed and would be an impediment until you’re almost there anyway. The lake, though snow covered, is not frozen (reports a woman with a very wet boot and pant leg who would know), and the route from the lake to the Pass is kind of a free-for-all, or that’s how I treated it. The view from the Pass, as stated, was well worth climbing through waist-deep snow from the lake. The wind was screaming, but the sun was full out. In all the hike took us 4 hours, including a brief lunch at the shelter and time up top to revel in the Olympic views. You can also see the canal & things east, but the mountains steal the show! More photos at: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/ Day hike
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Fall foliage
Issues:
Water on trail | Snow on trail
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This time I tried Tunnel Creek from the "easy" Quilcene side instead of the steeper, Dosewallips road side. Road to...
This time I tried Tunnel Creek from the "easy" Quilcene side instead of the steeper, Dosewallips road side. Road to the trailhead is clear with some potholes and loose rocks, so I was glad we brought the van. Any car ok - no clearance issues but it's rough at times.
Our surprise was immediate -- snow on the trail! It had fallen the night before, not more than an inch or two, but a beautiful dusting that glittered in the sun. It was COLD, too, in the high 20s. There was a layer of ice over the rocks and roots making it slick going. After the footbridge the scramble rock was a little treacherous. Just after the stock trail joins back in, the trail was a sheet of ice from water running down it that had frozen. I climbed up to the side, in the snow, using brush and trees to help. We decided that discretion was the better part of valor and turned back to spend more time looking at a beautiful icicle over the creek at the footbridge and playing monkey bars in the shelter. Microspikes or similar traction helpers would really help if you come when it's snowy or icy. It would also be easier with deeper snow. this is a beautiful hike. We'll go back and get to 5050 pass for sure! Pics at: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/ Day hike
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This report is from the Dosewallips Road side (Tunnel Creek the HARD way). The trail is relentlessly steep and incredibly...
This report is from the Dosewallips Road side (Tunnel Creek the HARD way). The trail is relentlessly steep and incredibly pretty, climbing through woods of fir, hemlock, and abudant golden-glowing maple. The road to the trailhead is fine - potholes can be negotiated in a normal car. TH is easy to miss, though. Going in there is a very small sign for "Tunnel Creek" on the right at about 10 miles. Parking is available at pullouts before or after the sign.
The trail condition is much improved after the intrepid WTA crew logout of 10/24/11 on which the photos below & linked were taken. The trail is now clear of the 20+ logs that were across it, including one over the other side of 5050 Pass that has eluded a few prior crews. Photos below give a taste of our work - clearing a 36" log over the trail at Gamm Creek. There is still a need for brushing in some spots and some tread work in a few narrow areas we didn't get to. There is no reliable water source after Gamm Creek. The trail has already seen snow at the higher elevations, but is melted out at the moment. Autumn is a great time of year for this trail as the colors are magnificent and the weather is cool enough for 3,500' of vertical gain in 3 miles. Our crew saw no hikers on this trail on a gorgeous Saturday. This trail felt like the Mailbox Peak of the Olympics, without the crowds (or, I'll admit, quite the panoramic views, though you can see a lot from the Pass). More photos (including TH sign) at: http://www.flickr.com/[…]/
Tunnel Creek, Harrison Lake, Valhalla peak
— Oct 15, 2011
— Emily's Dad
Overnight
Features:
Fall foliage
Issues:
Blowdowns | Mudholes | Water on trail
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This was a beautiful hike. The trail is very well maintained. The boulder that was blocking the road...
This was a beautiful hike. The trail is very well maintained. The boulder that was blocking the road has been removed and access to the trailhead has been re-established.
There is only one blowdwown across the trail adjacent to Harrison Lake. The first 2.5 miles up to the Tunnel Creek Shelter (elev 3800) had a couple of 20% grades but for the most part it was a steady climb. The next mile after the foot bridge was mostly 20% grade and climbed 900 ft to the lake(elev 4700). Also there was one spot for climbing up a small rock on hands and feet. No big deal though, easily climbed. The lake was about 1/3 covered by ice. I was not able to catch a thing. In the morning after a below freezing night, the lake was over half covered in ice. There were 3 decent spots to camp at the lake. After the lake there were a few more 20% grade up to the 5050 ridge(elev 5050). Beyond there up to Valhalla peak (elev 5420) was a good hike. I had a very clear day, visibility for over a hundred miles. I was able to see Seattle, Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, Mt Baker and much of the Cascade range. This hike is an excellent overnighter. |
Harrison Lake by Bev
2010, 2011
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