This was an Olympia Mountaineers youth and family backpack.  Our party consisted of three children ages nine and older, three parents, and the trip leaders.  One of the leaders had scouted the route about a week before.

The unpaved portion of the Duckabush Road is in good condition to the trailhead spur road.  It was graded in May 2024.  Just after the signed entrance and exit for the horse trailer unloading area is a spur road on the right, going uphill.  It is marked only by a signpost with its Forest Service road number. This has a few potholes.  The parking lot was about 2/3 full late on a Saturday morning. 

The first 1.2 miles is all uphill at an easy grade on a former logging road to the height of land on Little Hump and the beginning of The Brothers Wilderness area.  The trail narrows and makes a somewhat steeper descent of about 250' to the floor of the Duckabush River valley.  Recent trail work was evident, and some steps have been added or replaced.  Some of the trail on the flat is getting a bit brushy, but not yet a problem.  We did not notice any devil's club or nettles infringing on the trail.  Salmon, service, thimble, huckle, blue and other berries were ripe.

At about 2.3 miles, the trail rejoins the river, and passes three distinct camp sites between the trail and the river in the next quarter mile. More recent trail work is evident here.  The entire route was very suitable for youths with backpacks, as well as adults, with no deadfall, obstacles or detours. We chose a pretty site with easy access to the water.  The sites have rock fire rings, but with a burn ban in effect, we put a string of LED fairy lights in the fire ring for our gathering around the campfire.  On our return to the parking lot Sunday afternoon, the lot was again about 2/3 full.  A Forest Service or other federal pass is required at this trailhead.  A car with a state Discover Pass in the windshield had a "Notice of Fee Due" under the windshield wiper, so the lot evidently is patrolled. 

I've long wondered what lies beyond 5-mile Camp on the Duckabush and now I know: 2 miles of good trail with quality river views followed by 3+ miles of soggy, overgrown misery. The amount of precipitation from the sky was fairly negligible, but the accumulation of water on the vegetation did me in and I got soaked both coming and going. Perhaps it's fine in a dry spell, as CyclePath's recent TR suggests, but otherwise I'd say don't bother heading out any further than 7-mile Camp unless you're a hero with a machete.
On the plus side, the rhodies are blooming and there's tons of wildflowers (too many to list) and berries (huckleberry, strawberry, blueberry, etc). Birdsong was plentiful, too. The first five miles of trail see new improvements every time I'm out here and the road is actually in great shape, aside from some potholes on the final turnoff to the parking lot. Oh, and some folks on their way out said they saw a bear near the NP boundary so be sure to keep your food locked up.

A few overgrown but easily passable sections on the way up big hump and between big hump and 5 mile camp. 

One clown fishing where there were no fish. 

Perfect PNW day to be on this trail. 

Arrived at the TH around 8:55. Only one other car in the lot. Started our hike at 9am with a light drizzle. Clear trail, no bugs and no people. Our destination was Big Hump and had a blast on the hike up. Saw LOTS of wildflowers starting to pop off. Bumped into a few people on the way back to the trailhead but otherwise an ideal solitary outing. 

From staircase trailhead, the two of us went up North skokimish River trail  to 2 bear camp first day with great conditions. 2nd day went over First Divide with some snow on trail down to Home Sweet Home but passable with trekking poles. Continued down to Upper Duckabush and up to Marmot Lake fording duckabush river that was little high with snow melt but passable. Marmot Lake trail was clear to Marmot Lake. Had Marmot Lake to ourselves 2nd night. Trail to Hart Lake had some snow but passable. About quarter mile past Hart Lake turnoff lots of snow on trail all the way to Lacrosse lake could be seen so we turned around. Also O’Neil pass had 4-6 feet of snow at the Pass when my son took 1 mile trail up there from Marmot Lake so only passable with crampons at the pass, which we did not have. Snow patches on trail to the pass started about 300 yards from Marmot Lake. We went back down to Upper Duckabush Camp for 3rd night. Then went down Upper Duckabush Trail the 17.8 miles to trailhead, which had lots of blowdowns and trees to go under, over or around and most streams easily passable by walking, or making passable by using rocks, or using water shoes. Fording the rivers you will need water shoes and take off pack or loosen pack but all passable. I am 60 years old and my 30 year old son was kind enough to carry my pack across the fords. Upper Duckabush trail between Upper Duckabush and 5 mile camp has lots of vegetation so could not see trail looking straight down for much of way, so slow going as trail rough and narrow in parts combined with the many blowdown trees as obstacles. With rain during night the vegetation will be wet so plan to get soaked feet and pants or use gaiters or other waterproofing or plan to change socks at least once during the hike of upper duckabush between upper duckabush and five mile camp if recent rain. Trail maps say experienced stock riders only for that part of trail but our opinion is impassable to all stock riders as the vegetation overgrown and the many, many obstacles of fallen trees. From 5  mile camp to trailhead, the trail is much better maintained, easier, wider and more used. You can see the big difference  between National Park  and national forest trail conditions readily apparent at boundary. Lots of flowers, pristine alpine lakes and views all to yourself as did not see anyone else for almost 3 days between First Divide, up to Marmot Lake camp and back down to Upper Duckabush camp made the 5 day trip worthwhile. Many signs of bear between Upper Duckabush and Marmot Lake and between miles 17 and 8 of upper Duckabush Trail but no actual sight of bears. There are a few individual campsites around the 6-7 mile area of Upper Duckabush trail if you don’t want to go all the way to 5 mile camp from Upper Duckabush camp in one day or want to go a little past 5 mile camp if starting from trailhead. We camped at a great single spot right on the river around 7 mile mark on 4th night after having lunch at ten mile camp. Between 7 mile and 17 mile is where most of the obstacles and overgrown vegetation is on trail.