Olympic Mountains Trail Guide. Robert Wood
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a good evening walk when one is staying at Fairholme Campground. The path begins opposite the campground’s entrance (ca. 700 ft/213 m) on the North Shore Road (0.2 mi/0.3 km from US 101) and makes a horseshoe-shaped loop, coming back out to the road at a point about 200 yards to the north (0.7 mi/1.1 km).
Although the trail traverses an area close to the Olympic Highway, the forest is quiet and peaceful. Here the path meanders through an impressive stand of tall, old-growth Douglas-fir. The undergrowth is luxuriant, and smaller trees are mixed among the big firs.
3PYRAMID MOUNTAIN TRAIL
Length: 3.5 mi/5.6 km
Access: Camp David Jr. Road
Custom Correct Map: Lake Crescent / Happy Lake Ridge, Washington
Green Trails Map: Lake Crescent, Wa. No. 101
Agency: Olympic National Park
The trailhead (700 ft/213 m) is reached by driving 3.1 mi/5.0 km on Camp David Jr. Road from the Olympic Highway. The trailhead has been developed to provide wheelchair-friendly access to the Olympic Discovery Trail, and includes a paved ramp to the newly expanded Spruce Railroad Trail.
The Pyramid Mountain Trail is continuously uphill, ending at the top of Pyramid Mountain, thus making it a 2400-ft/732-m climb. On this trail you can hear the noise of vehicles traveling on US 101 along the lake’s south shore.
At first the trail ascends a bench covered with large second-growth fir, but it soon enters the virgin forest and contours the steep mountainside above Lake Crescent. The trunks of the tall, slender firs have been blackened by a fire that swept these slopes in the past. Numerous madronas grow among the conifers, and the ground cover consists largely of salal and Oregon grape. Sunlight streams through the trees, and one has glimpses of the lake and the ridges beyond.
Climbing steadily, the trail crosses a rocky watercourse, where a stream flows underground in late summer and fall. Usually water can be heard issuing from rocks above the trail at a point where the stream comes to the surface. This is June Creek (1.4 mi/2.3 km; 1070 ft/326 m). The stream probably received its name because it flows during June but disappears in July.
The trail then crosses a brook in a rocky ravine and presently comes out to an open spot having a good view of the lake. The area of the rocky ravine was the subject of a massive slide in winter of 2006, and the exposed slide area can be a bit unnerving to the novice hiker. Beyond this point the route steepens, rounds a spur, then switchbacks sharply upward to the divide west of Pyramid Mountain. Here the hiker will see on the north slope a big clear-cut that comes right up to the ridge crest; the contrast with past memory is striking, because the forest that formerly stood here was dense and shaded. The ridge marks the boundary between the national park and the national forest, and the trees were cut right to the line. The clear-cut does have one virtue—it provides a view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
After climbing a bit, the trail leaves the ridge and works its way up the north slope of Pyramid Mountain. The trees are remarkably large for this elevation, and the undergrowth is sparse. The trail begins to switchback again, then descends slightly before emerging from the deep shadows into the bright sunlight on the ridge. Much of Lake Crescent is visible from the open, sunny spot here. Directly ahead stands the summit lookout, which was used during World War II as an aircraft spotting station.
The trail follows the narrow ridge to the cabin, which sits upon an airy perch (3.5 mi/5.6 km; 3100 ft/945 m). The vista is outstanding—an excellent view of Lake Crescent and the hills beyond, with Lake Sutherland glimmering in the distance. However, the scene is dominated by Mount Storm King and complemented by the blue-green slopes of Aurora Ridge to the south. One has only to glance downward to see the delta of Barnes Creek far below, protruding into the lake.
Hikers should use care when moving around outside the cabin to check the different viewpoints because the slopes of the peak drop sharply on the north and east sides.
4MOMENTS IN TIME TRAIL
Length: 0.6 mi/1.0 km
Access: US 101
Custom Correct Map: Lake Crescent / Happy Lake Ridge, Washington
Green Trails Maps: Lake Crescent, Wa. No. 101
Agency: Olympic National Park
The Moments in Time Trail begins near the Storm King Ranger Station and Visitor Center on the delta of Barnes Creek, close to the south shore of Lake Crescent. The first half mile of the trail forms a self-guiding nature walk that is popular with travelers who drive along the shores of Lake Crescent. A side trail leads to the Storm King Ranger Station. Some sections of the path are paved; it is broad and smooth as it parallels the lakeshore and meanders among giant firs and cedars. Signs and benches line the walk and the understory is open and inviting—a miniature Olympic National park walk—perfect for children and those wanting a brief road respite.
5BARNES CREEK TRAIL
Limited maintenance
Length: 9.5 mi/15.3 km
Access: US 101
Custom Correct Map: Lake Crescent / Happy Lake Ridge, Washington
Green Trails Maps: Lake Crescent, Wa. No. 101; Joyce, Wa. No. 102
Agency: Olympic National Park
The Barnes Creek Trail begins at the Storm King Ranger Station and Visitor Center on the delta of Barnes Creek, close to the south shore of Lake Crescent. This trail follows the stream almost 10 mi/16 km to its headwaters on Baldy Ridge. The path starts along the shore of Lake Crescent, passing the boat ramp and the ranger station, then turns southwest and crosses underneath US 101 to then parallel US 101 for 0.4 mi/0.6 km. At this point, the trail intersects with the Lake Crescent Lodge Nature Trail. This valley is especially beautiful during the fall when the enormous leaves of the maples and devil’s clubs turn golden yellow.
Beyond junctions with the Mount Storm King Trail (0.5 mi/0.8 km) and the Marymere Falls Trail (0.7 mi/1.1 km), the way narrows, becoming a typical Olympic footpath about 18 inches wide. The route parallels Barnes Creek through a narrow valley where the forest is primarily Douglas-fir and western hemlock, with a ground cover of ferns. Here the chatter of the stream is always present. During the first few miles, the undergrowth is luxuriant, and the path crosses numerous little brooks; thus water is always available.
Old-growth forest along the Barnes Creek Trail
The trail is not level; it goes up and down, but ascends more than it descends, crossing Barnes Creek on a foot log at 1.3mi/2.1km. The path then crosses a large tributary. Here it penetrates dense thickets of salmonberry and devil’s club.
The trail now begins to switchback up the mountain, and the creek roars lustily far below. Upon reaching a point opposite a slope where slides have occurred, the trail veers away from Barnes Creek, then levels out as it approaches Dismal Draw Camp (3.5 mi/5.6 km; 1700 ft/518 m), where a little brook flows down a dark and gloomy defile.
Despite its name, this is a pleasant camp. The silence of the deep woods is broken by the subdued murmur of the brook, the croaking of ravens, and the wind whispering in the hemlocks and cedars. The campsite is a tiny shelf below the trail, barely large enough for two small tents. As it ascends Dismal Draw, which is almost always in the shade, the trail crosses the brook and returns to the Barnes Creek side of the spur. Once again the stream can be heard, but it is muffled now and sounds like the clatter of a distant train. The forest is so dense that virtually nothing grows upon the ground except moss. The