Staircase Rapids — Friday, Aug. 17, 2001

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

Traveled up to ole Lake Cushman and the Staircase Campground for a little rest and relaxation, both of which are a little harder to achieve at Staircase this time of year. The sign at the Ranger Station should read: Please turn off your car stereo while you are in the park! Thankfully the primitive dirt road up to Staircase serves to scare off our friends from LowRidersville. Spend a week in the backcountry and then venture into a State or National Park campground and you will know what I mean. Other than that, the campground was in great shape and the rangers were out in force. A recommended car camping trip if you can time it right. Anyway, we headed up the south side of the Staircase trail past the Big Cedar (which actually had fallen down a couple of years back)and up to the bridge above Staircase Rapids. Lots of day hikers on the trail but the BRIDGE IS OUT so don't plan on making the full 3 mile or so loop back around to the Staircase campground. The North Fork of the Skokomish River is lower than normal and one Ranger even suggested fording the river just above the washed out bridge to get across and actually make the loop. We didn't and I wouldn't suggest this method except for the abnormally low level of the river. The bridge is expected to be fully repaired by Fall of 2001. If your camping at Staircase, try taking the guided Ranger tour of the Shady Lane Nature Trail, which is fun for the whole family. This short trail ventures down the North Fork of the Skokomish River across from the Staircase campground and back. Forgot to mention, hardly a bug in site... Happy Trails...