Lower South Fork Skokomish River

Venture up the Lower South Fork of the Skokomish River for an abundance of flora and fauna amid lush old growth.

The trail begins with a series of switchbacks, quickly climbing a few hundred feet past sword fern and salal before leveling out high above the river in a section of old-growth firs. The wide, well-maintained trail breezes past trees hundreds of years old and then abruptly descends back down to the riverside.

From here the trail becomes tame, with only minor elevation changes and small creeks to tiptoe across. As you wander along, enjoy the sounds of the river and watch as the forest shifts easily between stands of maple and alder to hemlock and fir.

The trail extends a full 10.3 miles out to the Upper South Fork Skokomish River Trailhead, but there are a number of decent stopping points along the trail, and past the nine mile mark, the trail gets pretty rugged.

Many hikers call it a day at a bridge and waterfall a quarter mile short of the old Camp Comfort site--at almost exactly four miles, Camp Comfort was an ideal destination before it was washed away in 2007. Others like to get closer to the five mile mark and turn around at a viewpoint at a bend in the river.

This popular hike has some of the best of the Olympics flora and fauna and is well worth a visit. Not surprisingly, the trail attracts hikers year-round as well as mountain bikers and equestrians, so expect a little company. The hike is approachable for hikers of every skill level, and while the initial 300 foot hurdle might be a challenging for some youngsters, most of the route is a decent trek for kids.

WTA Pro Tip: Watch out for herds of Roosevelt elk that frequent the area.