North Fork Skokomish River

Hiking through a lowland forest river valley, the North Fork Skokomish Trail leads through the thick Olympic forest to subalpine meadows with unbelievable views of the heart of the craggy, snow-capped Olympic Range.

The trail is 15.2 miles between Staircase Ranger Station and its junction with the Duckabush River trail. Camps dot the trail, so day hikes or overnight trips of varying lengths are possible.

The most scenic section of this trail is the route to First Divide, where you find the gorgeous mountain views in a small pass, 4688 feet high. The hike to the First Divide is 13.1 miles from the Staircase trailhead. First Divide is a good destination for dayhikers looking for lots of miles, or overnighters. Past First Divide, it's only 2.9 miles downhill to the Duckabush River Trail, or just one mile to Home Sweet Home camp.

Note: There are pit toilets at the Staircase Ranger Station parking lot.  At the 3.7 miles, just past the junction with the Flapjack Lake Trail, there is another pit toilet.