Take a firsthand look at history from 100 years ago at Ranger Hole Trail. The hike is just 1.6 total miles, mostly flat, but very steep down to the river. Moderate difficulty. Views of waterfalls can be seen from Ranger Hole, so named because rangers posted at the guard station used to fish for Steelhead there in the deep river “hole”.
There is a small picnic area and toilet at the trailhead. A Northwest Forest Pass or Interagency Pass (Annual, Senior or Access) is needed to park at the trailhead.
The trail here at the historic Ranger Fishing Hole has two parts and will really appeal to children—one part features the historic ranger’s cabin and signs telling about life in the early 1900s, and another part leads to a stunning overlook of a loud white-water rapid of the gorgeous pristine Duckabush River. An abundance of ferns and mosses along the way provide a lush understory of plants in a conifer stand of trees.
Directions: South of the town of Brinnon, take Forest Service Road #2510, 4 miles to the end of pavement. Ranger Hole Trail is on the left, near the vintage Interrorem Cabin.
This is the very first ranger station serving the Olympic Forest, built in 1906. The square three-room cabin with a pyramidal roof later was a Depression era WPA and CCC station, and then a fire guard station; today it is available for rent by families. For rental info, contact Hoodsport Ranger Station for information at (360) 877-5254 or reserve online with Reserve America.
HAZARD WARNING: The Duckabush river contains swift water, rapids and waterfalls. River is not floatable. Use extreme caution in or near the water and supervise children closely at all times.
For much more info, please visit:
http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGW049-158
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/olympic/recreation-nu/trails/RangerHole.pdf