We had camped at Dosewallips SP Friday and Saturday nights so after our walk to Rocky Brook Falls Sunday AM, we hiked the Maple Valley Loop to stretch our legs some more before driving home. Craig Romano describes a 3.5 mile loop in his book, "Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula". Today we shortened the loop by using the fire road rather than including the Steam Donkey Trail. We began by hiking along the river behind the Platform Tents sites and then following the trail through Maple Valley. This trail takes you above the river for a short distance before dropping down to travel through Maple Valley with its large maples, decaying logs, stumps with interesting roots and new growth, a lush canopy of ferns, and a bridge across Phantom Creek. The trail then climbs about 350 feet to higher ground and a Douglas fir forest. We took the fire road to a sign for Maple Valley and followed this trail through another section of Maple Valley crossing a second bridge to return to the CG.

We parked at the Dosewallips State Park for the night last weekend. Compared to parking on forest service land it was not cheap, $21 for a site with no services. But it was clean and easy. Pick a site away form the road as it can be noisy. There is a good place for breakfast called the Half-Way Cafe just north of the park. The Dosewallips Steam Donkey trail is nice enough. It winds up and down through 2nd growth woods. A relic or two of the logging days still poke up hear and there. The trail is in good condition and there are plenty of benches for enjoying the peace and quiet.

I hiked starting on the Maple Valley Trail. When I came to the logging road, it lead into the Steam Donkey Trail. In some spots there was a wash out of the trail, mud, and some water on the trail. Well groomed trail. Would be good for kids and dogs. Trail head starts in Dosewallips State Park. There is a ranger station at the trail head which is open from 3-4 every day. Not a bad hike for a family, but minimal elevation gain and low difficulty. Great shots for photography.

Nice to get out ans walk in the woods. Just a dusting of snow, noone out walking here today, or we didnt come across anyone.

After setting up camp we walked this loop retracing first the end of our loop last Sunday where I had unknowingly dropped a lens cap which I wanted to retrieve if it was still there. After finding it we did the Steam Donkey loop which we didn't have time to do on Sunday. This section gradually elevates through a lush green second growth forest crossing several bridged creeks before descending to a dammed pool which was used to power the "steam donkeys" used by the railroad. We probably only hiked 2 miles, but it was a pleasant "warm up" for the week-end and we managed to spend 2 hours as we're always looking for "images" along the way!