Dosewallips State Park - Maple Valley Loop, Dosewallips State Park - Steam Donkey Trail — Tuesday, Mar. 20, 2018

Parking for the Park is on the East side of Hwy 101, which means that you have to cross the road to get to the trails.  If you go up the fire road on your left just after entering the Park, you soon arrive at an intersection of both the Maple Valley and Steam Donkey Trails.  However, if you continue on the paved entry road until you reach the bridge just before the park office, (as I did), you encounter an un-named trail head on the left by the bridge which will take you to the start of the Rhody Cut-Off Trail and will allow for a counter-clockwise hike around the Park.  This trail is covered with leaves and has many tree roots crossing it so it’s important to watch your footing.  The trail does eventually join with the Maple Valley Trail.  There are several segments on both of these trails with steep, although short, ups and downs.   After reaching the fire road, the Steam Donkey Trail starts right across the road.  There is a tree at the beginning of the trail that has a sign indicating that it was struck by lightning in 2001.  The Steam Donkey Trail does not have as much leaf cover and is somewhat muddy in spots, although all of the mud is easy to walk around.  At one point there are several benches by the trail which provide nice resting spots to have lunch or just enjoy the views.  It is somewhat confusing here, though, because there is an unmarked tee intersection.  The main trail is the one going uphill on the left.  Continuing on the trail there is another trail marked Izett Grade on the left which rejoins the fire road at Phantom Creek.   Staying on the Steam Donkey Trail will bring you back to the fire road near the entrance to the Park.  There were several camping vehicles and tents in the camp area but I did not encounter anyone else on any of the trails.  Since this is a state park, it opens at 8:00 am.  But, if you arrive early there are sunrise photo ops at the Hood Canal.  I also saw many geese, ducks, and a great blue heron.  This is a pretty trail with many nice bridges crossing the numerous streams.  But, I’m sure it will be much prettier later in the season when the wild flowers are blooming.