This is for the .5 mile Storybook Loop trail. If you want to do the Storybook Loop from the beginning of the book, you should park at the south lot!
Looking for a quick hike with our kids (2 and 5) before we had to check out of our vacation rental, we ended up at the Hoodsport trail, mostly by default despite the fairly negative reviews here and elsewhere. I have to say that the trail completely exceeded our expectations!
The Storybook Trail includes a new story every season put up on signs around the loop by the local library. The summer story was great and our kids loved following it, even out of order (more on that below). The map at the start of the hike as clear and the signage for the lower loop and where it diverged from the upper loop were very clear on the trail.
It's not the world's most incredible hike, but it did feel like a hike (at least for kids). The area has been logged, and so the under story still felt fairly in flux. However there were still tons of native plants including ripe dew berries and salmon berries that helped get the kids through the hike. According to the seek app, we say vanilla leaf, devil's club, and threeleaf foamflower (how is that only two words?). There were tons of post-bloom trillium on the trail, so I suspect that was beautiful a month ago. It's truly a perfect quick hike for families.
Unlike the featured photo for this hike, it looks like the bridges have been repaired for the season and the trail was in good condition. We didn't explore any more of the trail system there, but a local mentioned to us that no matter where you go, you'll end up back at one of the parking lots.
Notably, there are two parking lots. There is the official signed one to the south with a toilet and picnic benches, and then a second "upper lot" a couple hundred yards further North with a random Gazebo. The upper lot is directly across 119 from the Hoodsport disc golf course.
Comments