Flapjack Lakes via North Fork Skokomish River — Monday, Jun. 9, 2014

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

We knew this was going to be a very long day hike, so we started early, out of the house by seven, arriving at Staircase by nine o'clock. As always, the beginning of the Skokomish Trail was gentle and lovely as we ascended gradually upstream, passing through ancient cedars and western hemlocks and then through the still visible tree skeletons from the 1985 burn. After four miles, we paused for calories before heading up the Flapjack Lakes trail. This trail begins with a few switchbacks and LOSE (lots of salal everywhere). After about a mile and a half, the trail crosses the roaring Madeline Creek on a nice sturdy bridge, and then continues up another mile or so until it nears a second roaring waterway, Donahue Creek. The trail gets steeper at this point, following Donahue Creek higher and higher, eventually passing some very impressive waterfalls. After this, the trail gets even rougher and steeper for the last mile before finally reaching the lakes at 8 miles, and over three thousand feet of elevation gain. The two lakes are beautiful with a little isthmus between them which made a great lunch spot for us. We saw no snow, but lots of flowers on the way: trillium, queen's cup, bunch berry, and avalanche lilies. The way back down was pleasant but long, and we got back to the car by six o'clock, sixteen miles and nine hours on the trail.