Hikes & Local Attractions
Things to do in Lake Cushman
Sleeps 6
2 Baths
4 Hot Tubs
Fireplace
Pool
Next to Lifts
4 Beds
2 Baths
Sleeps 6
Hot Tub
Indoor Fireplace
Pool
Mins to Lifts
Hoodsport Trail
A SMALL PARK BETWEEN HOOD CANAL & LAKE CUSHMAN. HOODSPORT TRAIL IS OVERLOOKED BY HIKERS HEADING TO TRAILS WITHIN THE OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK AND FOREST. Hoodsport Trail Park consists of about two miles of trails with major loops and several connecting trails. The system can be a little confusing to follow, but that just adds to the fun of hiking these wooded trails. The Lower Loop makes a half mile loop in the lush mature second-growth forest that embraces Dow Creek. Two big rustic bridges will take you over the creek and back. The Hoodsport Timberland Library partnered with the Port of Hoodsport to transform the lower loop into a storybook trail. Families with small children will enjoy reading a story on separate panels as they hike along this delightful trail. The Upper Loop is a little longer than a mile and climbs through a more open forest. The highlight to this trail is a lone enormous bigleaf maple tree. The Upper Loop brushes along the periphery of the park which borders a DR tract that was recently logged. This provides some sunnier hiking than the lower loop and some limited views out to the Olympic Mountain foothills.
Big Creek Loop
BIG CREEK LOOP OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST HIKE THIS CIRCUITOUS ROUTE WITHIN THE SHADOWS OF MOUNT ELLINOR, AND LET BIG CREEK AND ITS TUMBLING TRIBUTARIES CONTINUOUSLY CHARM & CAPTIVATE YOU This family-friendly loop swings around the Big Creek basin crossing that waterway and a handful of its tributaries on a series of bridges. And it leads to couple of side trails heading off to hidden cascades amongst boulders. Big Creek can be hiked ear round, but it's best after a period of prolonged rainfall. Utilizing old logging roads and new tread, the all-volunteer Mount Rose Trail Crew built this delightful loop more than twenty year ago. The crew currently maintains 16 trails in the Olympic National Forest. The Big Creek Loop showcases their topnotch bridge building skills. For many, the bridges are the highlights of this hike. The trail starts from the Big Creek Campground. Here follow what is officially called the Upper Big Creek Loop Trail. The recommended direction is clockwise to take advantage of a gentler descent that will be easier on the knees. The trail immediately crosses Big Creek on a sturdy bridge one of two provided by contractors and not trail crew whom built bridges on site with area materials. The trail briefly heads down stream along the creek before making a U-turn to begin ascending above it. Signed features and resting benches grace the way. At 1.8 miles come to a junction. Here the Creek Confluence Trail drops to the confluence of Big and Branch Creeks before looping back to the main trail. The Big Creek Loop continues straight soon coming to a junction with the Mount Ellinor Connector Trail. The Connector Trail leads left 1.4 miles to the Mount Ellinor Trail and allows for a long and challenging ascent of the peak. The loop continues straight crossing Branch Creek on a good bridge before spanning Big Creek on a bridge above a gorgeous cascade. The loop descends skirting big mossy boulders and passing views of Big Creek. A short side trail heads right to drop back down to where Big and Branch Creeks meet. The main trail soon comes to bridged crossings of scenic Skinwood and No Name Creeks. It then passes a few giant firs that past loggers missed. At 4.0 miles it reaches a junction with the Campground Loop Trail which loops around the campground for 0.8 mile if vou want to extend vour bike Otherwise continue right a short distance to return to the trailhead
Mount Rose
OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST THE VIEW OF LAKE CUSHMAN 3,500 FT DIRECTLY BELOW IS STUNNING The trail starts out easy by heading up an old road and crossing a cascading creek. But the grade quickly steepens and with a vengeance, through a series of tight switchbacks the trail incessantly climbs. Wind through carpets of salal and a uniform second-growth forest. A few remnant giant firs however survived the fires that swept through the area in the early twentieth-century. At 1.2 miles after 1000' of vertical climbing, come to a bench with a limited view of Lake Cushman. The trail then enters the Mount Skokomish Wilderness and gets even steeper. At 1.9 miles the trail reaches the summit loop junction along with a small plaque honoring the crew that built this trail. Head left on the shorter and steeper route to the summit, leaving the longer and more gradual option for the descent. The summit loop climbs 1,300' in just over one mile, through a 2006-wildfire burn and remnant pockets of old growth. At 3. 1 miles it reaches the 4301' forested summit. Don't despair, for a small rock outcropping juts out of the forest providing a panoramic payoff. Directly below is sparkling Lake Cushman. Lightning Peak and Timber Mountain rise majestically behind it. Look out in the distance and locate the Skokomish River delta, the Black Hills and the Willapa Hills. Mount Rainier can also be seen. After taking in the views continue hiking along the summit loop. The trail traverses attractive forest and passes a colonnade of four silver firs that have grown so close together they appear fused. At 1.7 miles from the summit the loop trail returns to the main trail. From here it's a knee jarring descent back to the trailhead.
Staircase Rapids Trail
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK THE HIKE TO STAIRCASE RAPIDS IS A HECK OF A LOT EASIER TODAY THAN IT WAS IN 1890 WHEN LIEUTENANT JOSEPH O'NEIL ACCOMPANIED BY A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS LED AN ARMY EXPEDITION HERE ON THE WAY ACROSS THE OLYMPICS They cut a mule trail up the North Fork of the Skokomish to help transport supplies to base camps along the way. Among the many findings that O'Neil's party would report was a realization that this wild area deserved to be protected as a national park. From the main parking area walk past the ranger station and cross the North Fork Skokomish on a solid bridge. Then hit the trail and start following a section of the original O'Neil Mule Trail. Interpretive signs along the way shed more light on the O'Neil Expedition and area's fascinating geology. Pass the Shady Lane Trail (a great side trip) and a side trail leading to an incredibly large western cedar windfall. The main trail gently climbs coming upon the frothy river. Pass big boulders and the roaring and crashing Staircase Rapids and reach a junction. The trail straight ahead leads to Four Stream (another great side trip). The loop continues right to a large sturdy suspension bridge spanning the wild waterway. Cross the river and reach the North Fork Skokomish River Trail. Then turn right and hike down river on the wide well-traveled trail through lush riparian flats. Pass giant maples, firs, and cedars along the way. After crossing fanning Slate Creek the way climbs a tad to bypass a large slide along the river. It then returns to the large parking area near the ranger station.
Flapjack Lakes
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK SUBALPINE LAKES TUCKED IN THE HIGH SERRATED DIVIDE SEPARATING OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK FROM THE MOUNT SKOKOMISH WILDERNESS. It's a long haul to these two lakes, but most of the way is via a gentle or moderate grade. Strong hikers and trail runners will have no problem reaching them within a day. But others may want to plan on spending the night here at the lakes' delightful backcountry camping area. Start your hike on the North Fork Skokomish Trail which begins by following an old road bed decommissioned in the early 1970s. Traverse a luxuriant bottomland of big ancient cedars, Douglas-firs, and moss-cloaked big leaf maples. After passing the Staircase Rapids Loop Trail the trail comes up upon the tumbling river. The way then traverses an old burn passing by big snags and gradually moving away from the river. At 3.6 miles reach a junction just before Spike Camp. Now head right and start climbing out of the river valley. After passing through a marshy area of big cedars, come to Madeline Creek in a narrow ravine. Cross it via a sturdy bridge and continue climbing. Skirt a hillside and work your way up the Donahue Creek ravine. The way, now considerably steeper parallels the cascading creek. The climb eases just before a junction. Here a trail leads left to the Black and White Lakes. The Flapjack Lakes lie 0.6 mile straight ahead. Set in a basin at 3850 feet, they are ringed by subalpine forest and the rugged spires of the Sawtooth Range. A trail travels 0.8 mile around the western lake. If you spend the night, consider the 1.3 mile side trip to the Black and White Lakes or the 1.4 mile side trip to 5000-foot Gladys Divide beneath the impressive summit of 6104-foot Mount Cruiser.
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Mount Ellinor
MOUNT ELLINOR IS AN OLYMPIC CLASSIC DELIVERING ICONIC VIEWS OF LAKE CUSHMAN, HOOD CANAL AND THE EASTERN OLYMPIC FRONT. One of the most popular hikes in the Olympics, folks of all hiking backgrounds ascend this peak every year to relish in those views. But note, Ellinor is no easy hike. It's extremely steep and involves negotiating a rocky summit with precipitous drops. It can be a dangerous hike in inclement weather and when snow covered. There is an upper trailhead that shortens this hike by more than three miles and knocks eight hundred feet of elevation off. If your intent is to just get to the summit, then head to the upper trailhead. Otherwise, start at the lower trailhead and enjoy primeval forest groves and perhaps a little solitude at this very popular destination. Immediately enter a forest of old growth hemlock and Douglas-fir with a rhododendron understory. At .2 mile stay right at a junction. The way left leads downhill to the Big Creek Loop. Now skirt the edge of an old clear-cut and enjoy teaser views of the peak ahead. Then steadily ascend a heavily forested ridge coming to a junction at 1.6 miles. The trail right leads to the upper trailhead. Stay left soon coming to another junction with another trail leading to the upper trailhead. Now joining plenty of other hikers, head left and steeply climb. At 2.4 miles bear left where the winter route leads right. Trees soon yield to meadows and rocky gardens. Give thanks to the Mount Rose Trail Crew for carving this trail into the steep mountain face. Utilizing steps ascend an incredibly steep slope. Pause to admire carpeting flowers and an amazing view unfurling before you. Traverse beneath the summit block and then bend left and clamber up a rocky ridge reaching Ellinor's 5944-foot summit. Nearly one vertical mile below is shimmering Lake Cushman. Just beyond Hood Canal and Puget Sound sparkle against a Cascades backdrop dominated by Mount Rainier and Mount St Helens. Turn your attention north and westward to a diorama of jagged Olympic Peaks. Icy Olympus can be seen in the distance. And be sure to gaze straight down into the Jefferson Creek Valley and spot an isolated little pond. Ellinor's non-native mountain goats may make an alpine appearance as well.
