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1	Duckabush River Trail

	RATINGS	Scenery 5 Difficulty 2–6 Solitude 6
	ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE	4.4 miles to first camp; 13.4 miles to park boundary
	ELEVATION GAIN	900' to first camp; 2,800' to park boundary
	OPTIONAL MAP	Green Trails, The Brothers (No. 168)
	USUALLY OPEN	April–November
	BEST TIME	Late April–June; October
	AGENCY	Hood Canal Ranger District (Olympic National Forest), 360-765-2200, fs.usda.gov/recarea/ olympic/recreation/ recarea/?recid=47691
	PERMIT	Self-issued wilderness permit required at national park boundary, 6.7 miles from trailhead; an overnight fee of $8 per person applies if camping within the national park. Northwest Forest Pass required.

Highlights

Although it features some exceptionally nice views along the way, the Duckabush River Trail is primarily a forest hike that follows one of the largest and most important rivers flowing out of the eastern Olympic Mountains. Because the trail is open for most of the year, this is a particularly good choice for a spring or fall adventure, when the higher mountains are still encased in snow.

Getting There

Drive 110 miles north of Portland on I-5 to Olympia and take Exit 104 for US 101. After 6 miles, take Exit 101 to stay on US 101, and then drive 50 miles to a junction with paved Duckabush Road near milepost 310. Turn left (west), drive 6.1 miles on pavement then gravel (with lots of potholes, but OK for passenger cars if you drive slowly) past Collins Campground and to a junction, bear right, and reach the road-end trailhead after another 0.2 mile.

GPS COORDINATES N47° 41.070' W123° 03.570'

Hiking It

The gravel-strewn trail begins on a hillside well away from the river as it makes a gentle climb through a forest of Douglas firs and western hemlocks. After gaining 450 feet in 1.2 miles, the trail reaches the relatively unimpressive top of a rocky spur called Little Hump. From about the 2-mile mark, you enter an area that was burned in a 2011 fire, which started at Five Mile Camp (farther along the trail). At 2.2 miles is an excellent campsite beside the clear Duckabush River (although be somewhat cautious about camping near snags and dead trees). If you are backpacking with children, this is a good place to spend the night.

Beyond the first camp, you face the trip’s biggest obstacle, a 1,000-foot climb over the top of Big Hump. This rocky mass, left behind by ancient glaciers, requires two dozen short, fairly steep, and rather tiring switchbacks to conquer. Fortunately, partway up is a perfect rest stop at an overlook with a superb view of the forested Duckabush Valley. Across the valley to the south rises prominent St. Peters Dome, whose towering sheer sides make it look as if it were transplanted from California’s Yosemite Valley. Beyond this viewpoint, more uphill walking takes you past a nice but not as impressive viewpoint before you come to the top of Big Hump.

It is nearly all downhill from here as switchbacks descend 700 feet to the cascading Duckabush River just above where the water cuts a gorge around Big Hump. Not far upstream is Five Mile Camp (actually at 5.2 miles), a popular site for camping and fishing, with room for a few tents. Beyond here the trail stays in valley forests, making many small ups and downs but never straying too far from the water. There are several possible campsites along the way, but if you go beyond 6.7 miles, where the trail enters the national park, you will need a park wilderness permit (self-issued at the park entrance). The park also prohibits firearms and pets, as well as fires above 3,500 feet elevation. Hardy hikers can continue their wilderness adventure, reaching lovely Ten Mile Camp at (you guessed it) a little over 10 miles and eventually climbing to the gorgeous high meadows and lakes around Marmot Lake and O’Neil Pass. Both of these destinations are more than 20 miles into the heart of the glorious Olympic backcountry.

Lower elevation makes the Duckabush River Trail a good choice for early- and late-season camping.