Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail to Camp Comfort
Backcountry Response Team
Thu Jun 18, 2026 8:30 AM — Sun Jun 21, 2026 3:30 PM
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Region
Olympic Peninsula — East - Hood Canal
Features: Earn Northwest Forest Pass
Crew Leader: Patrick Sullivan
Overview
The long, quiet Lower South Fork Skokomish River is a wonderful year-round amble, but WTA crews are needed to ensure the trail is clear for anyone visiting. Join this early-season trip to rid this trail of winter damage.
About the Area
The ancient South Fork Skokomish Trail meanders through both old-growth forest and areas that have seen logging in the more recent past as it parallels the South Fork of the Skokomish River.
Quiet forest entices many hikers, who visit points of interest like the old LeBar claim, Camp Comfort, Church Creek Shelter, Laney Camp and Harps Shelter.
What to Expect
We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference!
Project Description
This crew will focus on improving the trail on the middle section of the Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail between Lebar Homestead and Church Creek ford.
Camping and Hiking Information
- Type: Backcountry basecamp
- Location: Camp Comfort
- Weather: Be prepared for variable conditions including heat, cold, wind and rain
- Initial hike to camp: 1 mile with 500 feet of elevation loss at a moderate pace while carrying your backpack fully loaded with all provisions including camping gear and food, plus WTA-provided tools.
- Expected daily hike to project: up to 4 miles roundtrip over flat terrain with little elevation gain at a moderate pace.
Schedule
- Day 1: Meet the crew rain or shine, then hike in, begin work on the project and set up camp
- Day 2+: Make breakfast and pack a lunch before heading out on trail with the crew by 8:00 AM. Work at your own pace, take plenty of breaks and enjoy lunch on the trail. Arrive back in camp by 4:00 or 5:00 PM for a relaxing evening. Prepare your own dinner and swap stories with the crew.
- Final Day: Break down camp, finish trail project, hike out and say goodbye to the crew at the trailhead
For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.
Planning Information
Get ready for a challenging backcountry adventure!
What it Takes to Do This Work Party
- A great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need for the project
- Backpacking gear and food for multiple nights on the trail
- Good physical condition to hike with a fully-loaded backpack and be physically active for about 8-9 hours daily on uneven terrain
- Backpacking experience including ability to run your own camp following Leave No Trace principles
- Day work party experience recommended
- Flexibility to adapt to changes due to unpredictable weather or land manager requests
- Minimum age: 18
What to Bring
Required:
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes
- Work gloves
- Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)
- Long pants
Recommended:
- Sturdy work or hiking boots
- Long sleeved shirt
A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.
In addition to items listed above, bring the following backpacking gear:
- WTA hard hat
- Work gloves
- Backpack to carry all of your gear
- Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- Cooking gear and enough food (plus a little extra) for the entire trip
- At least two 1-liter water bottles and a way to purify your water
- Rain jacket and rain pants
- Extra warm clothing
- Camp clothing such as shorts, shirt and sandals
- Sun and bug protection
- Headlamp and extra batteries
- Personal items such as medication, hand sanitizer and toiletries
- First aid kit
- A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!
A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hard hat. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own.
More Information
- What to Pack for a Backcountry Response Team
- Frequently Asked Questions
- WTA's Trail Work Guide introduces the type of work you may do
- Contact us at volunteer@wta.org or 206.625.1367
From the Hiking Guide
See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.
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Partners
Directions
From Highway 101 (which goes north from Olympia to the Olympic Peninsula) turn west onto Skokomish Valley Road, roughly 6 miles north of Shelton or 7 miles south of Hoodsport. (Look for Fish Hatchery and National Forest Skokomish River Recreation Area signs) . Drive 5.6 miles to a Y junction with Forest Service Road 23. Turn right and uphill onto FSR 23. The road is paved except for a small section of gravel; stay on the main route for 9.3 miles (15 miles from US 101) until you arrive at another Y intersection in the road. Turn right onto FS #2353 and drive 0.6 mile downhill, after crossing the river turn left, drive a little more than 0.1 mile, crossing a second bridge, to the hiker and biker access trailhead on your left with a vault toilet (last one). Continue uphill for 0.8 miles passing the Lebar Horse Camp on the right to the first major Y intersection. Bearing to the left, and quickly passing a small spur road to the left, continue for 1.5 miles to a another Y intersection. Bear to the left and continue for another 1.6 miles to a small parking area on the left.
Note: Please follow the written directions above instead of using a GPS device. This will ensure that you get to the correct meeting location for this work party. The location of the pinpoint below is only approximate.
Getting to WTA work parties can involve travel on rough, unpaved roads in areas without cellular service and without street addresses that can be accurately used by navigation devices. Unless specifically noted otherwise, routes can generally be traveled by all types of vehicles. Volunteers with limited experience driving on unpaved mountain roads may want to allow extra time, beyond what is recommended in the directions above, to get to the meeting location.
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