This magical Olympic National Forest trail in the Duckabush Recreation Area is just 1.4 miles in length, but it takes you into another world. It leads to a very high woodland waterfall that will captivate photographers and hikers with it’s beauty and thundering power. The 130-foot-tall waterfall spills over the top of the highest ledge, drops, then levels off in a plunge pool, and then hurtles down again to steam and settle down again in the valley below.
This is a great hike for a hot summer day with it’s cool canyon breezes, shade, and spray to cool you. The trail was once a logging road, which has recovered nicely from those days. In spring huge native rhododendrons and tiny umbrella ferns bloom along the shady trail.
The drive out to the trailhead is not too steep but the road may have many deep potholes. Go slow! No toilet or drinking water at the trailhead.
CAUTION: Trail is very narrow and has a steep plunge off one side down to the steep canyon below! Hold on to children’s hands here. Pets on leash only.
For more information and good directions, click on this official park info (PDF)
Also visit the Murhut Falls page on GORP website.
Or at Trails.com: http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGW049-160
walking
Terrace Loop hike along Dosewallips River in Brinnon
Terrace Loop hike is 1.5 long. This trail begins and ends 100 yards from the Dosewallips Ranger Station on the Dosewallips River trail. The beautiful Dosewallips River is accessible along this 1.5 mile trail.
Side note: Dosewallips Road is washed out and is closed further along the road, approx. 5 miles from the park boundary.
Directions to the Ranger Station and Trailhead: From Brinnon, Drive north on Highway 101 to Dosewallips River Road, number 2610. Turn westward (left) on to Dosewallips River Road and travel 15 miles to the ranger station and trailhead. The last portion of the road is narrow and steep. It may be slippery when wet.
The full Dosewallips River Trail starts at the same place. The full hike is strenuous and is 14 miles long, for a much more advanced outing! More info about the full trail: http://trails.gorp.com/Main-Fork-Dosewallips-6386
Dosewallips State Park is a 425-acre, year-round camping park with saltwater shoreline on Hood Canal and freshwater shoreline on either side of the Dosewallips River. See more information about this amazing place on it’s official web page:
http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Dosewallips
