Miles: 2.8 miles RT (unless the gate is closed and then it is 8 miles RT)
Elevation Gain/Highest: 145ft/615ft
Map: Green Trails Mt. Christie No 166
Favorite Eats After Hike: Pacific Pizza, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about this place in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
My hike:
3/10/2019
The steady trail began by walking gently through an open grove of young hemlocks that sprung up in the aftermath of a wind storm that toppled most of the forest giants. From here the more recently constructed path moves into the rainforest which quickly surrounded us in its humid embrace.
A spongy blanket of verdant moss cloaked just about anything on the forest floor that has paused more than a second and is interspersed with trillium, ferns, huckleberry and salal. We had to be careful with our steps as we made our way along the trail littered with elk scat and woven with the gnarled knuckles of the immense fir, cedar, spruce and hemlock trees shadowing over our heads.
In about half a mile the trail took its course along Irely Creek which soaked the forest floor. Dilapidated wooden puncheons and a brief detour up onto a cliff band next to the creek do their best to keep us above all the muck and mire but there were more than a few swampy patches as we passed by skunk cabbage and devil’s club. There were two creek crossings, the first was a rock hop and the second was a narrow log bridge with sturdy railing.
It was interesting to gaze down from the trail up on the cliff wall at the marshy span of the creek and see remnants of past puncheons and bridges.
After the second bridge over the creek, the trail gained another 60 feet as it transition back into the dense forest and the softer terrain of pine needle carpeted soil. At 1.2 miles, we arrived at a small sign for the junction that carried us up and then down to the lakeshore. The last few feet descend to a small bank on a ladder of roots that required both of my hands.
We spent some time at this tranquil lake listening to woodpecker working for her lunch and a trio of squawking ducks chasing each other across the water’s glassy surface. Mount Hoquiam rose to the southeast and I could barely make out the tip of Colonel Bob Peak to the south through the woods on the other side of lake and only because I knew it should be there.
We were reluctant to leave the peacefulness of this isolated spot we had all to ourselves but there were more adventures to be had along the coast…
For more hikes in this area, visit my Olympic Peninsula page!
Directions: Travel north from Hoquiam on US Highway 101 for 38 miles. Turn right at milepost 126 onto South Shore Road and Lake Quinalt. Drive 12.9 miles (pavement ends at 7.8 miles) to a junction at the Quinault River Bridge. Turn left, crossing over the bridge. Immediately turn right onto North Shore Road and drive 2.9 miles to the trailhead (elev. 475 ft) on the left. Parking is on the right with room for a dozen vehicles.
Thank you so much for stopping by Must Hike Must Eat!
If you need some healthy eating inspiration start here:..
Need some eating out suggestions when friends want to stop after a hike? I have a Pacific Northwest Eating Guide here.
Find out what’s been happening outside the blog:
If you have a question you don’t want to post in the comments, you can ask them here: