Black & White Lakes, North Fork Skokomish River and Flapjack Lakes, Black & White Way

We left the trailhead at Staircase at 8:00 a.m. and headed up the well maintained North Fork Skokomish River Trail to Big Log Camp and then turned uphill on the Black&White Lakes Trail.

The trail was steep, climbing nearly 3000' in 2.3 miles with nary a switchback!
As we neared the lakes, the weather turned cool, cloudy and breezy and we encountered patches of snow. By the time we reached the trail junction sign, the snow was deep enough to completely obscure the trail. It took us another 20 minutes of route-finding to reach the lake.

The lake was still frozen and just beginning to thaw. Avalanche and Glacier Lilies were beginning push up through the melting snow. After a short rest we headed back to the trail junction and down the the Black&White Way trail to the Flapjack Lakes trial. Oddly, this trail is not marked on the sign at the junction!. The trail was difficult to follow at first, due to the snow and the water running down the trail. There were several blowdowns along this trail, most notably a large fir tree about 4 ft. in diameter.

We soon reached the Flapjack Lakes Trail and started back down towards the North Fork Skokomish River Trail. The remaining 7 miles were pretty easy going, the only obstacle being the closed bridge at Madeline Creek.

We arrived back at the trailhead at 6:00 pm: 15 miles in 10 hrs.
A strenuous hike and a beautiful lake; well worth the effort!