Geyser Valley

We hiked this trail as described in Craig Romano's book, "Day Hiking the Olympic Peninsula" adding a few side trips along the way. Below Humes Ranch we turn right at the bear wire and hike to the Elwha through a maple bottom to a good campsite. The maples had lost most of their leaves, but a variety of 'shrooms were seen and the cottonwoods were a brilliant yellow! Upon returning to the trail through the meadow below Humes Ranch we hiked to the river bank with views of the Elwha and the Dodger Point Bridge. The cottonwoods were at their peak color. Because of the washout at Antelope Creek (?) a fairly new trail takes you to the Dodger Point Trail where we turned right to the Dodger Point Bridge. Approaching darkness made us turn back about 1/8 mile before the bridge. Rain began about 3:00 and was a companion the rest of the day. This is one of our favorite fall, winter, and spring hikes because of the variety of flora and fauna and the beauty of the Elwha valley. There were bird's nest fungi in various stages on boards below the porch at Humes Ranch. We were on the trail 8 hours leisurely enjoying and photographing its many beauties!