Olympic National Forest Guide

Olympic National Forest Hiking Trails

• Native American Nature Trail

  Find out how indigenous people used the bountiful resources in the Olympic National Forest on the Native American Nature Trail. Located in the Seal Rock Interpretive Site, this kid-friendly hike is lined with interpretive signs. With each one, you'll learn something new about the local Native American people throughout history. The path is asphalt; it's technically accessible for both strollers and wheelchairs as long as you're prepared for a few bumpy stretches.

  Length: 0.15 mile round-trip

  Intensity: Easy

• Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail

  Discover the fascinating rainforests of the Olympic National Forest on the Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail. As you stroll through the lush foliage along Willaby Creek, a series of educational panels helps you identify different types of plants. You'll also find out about the unique old-growth trees. The first section of this gravel trail is accessible for wheelchairs, and the hike is open year-round.

  Length: 0.5 mile round-trip

  Intensity: Easy

• Murhut Falls Trail

  Check out one of the spectacular waterfalls of the Olympic Peninsula on the Murhut Falls Trail. Short and easy to navigate, this lovely path takes you past wildflowers and through old-growth trees to its namesake falls. It's important to stay on the trail as the surrounding wilderness has many hidden drops and hazards.

  Length: 1.6 miles round-trip

  Intensity: Moderate

• Mt. Walker Trail

  The Mt. Walker Trail is one of the most accessible summit hikes in the Olympic National Forest. The path is steep and challenging, but after just 2 miles, you'll reach the north summit of Mt. Walker. From there, you'll find lovely views of the surrounding mountains and Douglas fir forests. There's a road to the viewpoints at the top, so you can bring two vehicles to create a shuttle system. That way, it's easy to do a top-down or bottom-up hike to suit your preferences and activity level. When you reach the top of the hike, you can walk down the road for 0.5 miles to check out the views from the southern summit.

  Length: 4 miles round-trip

  Intensity: Strenuous

• Colonel Bob Trail

  Hike deep into the Colonel Bob Wilderness on the Colonel Bob Trail. Start early to reach the summit of Colonel Bob before the afternoon storms roll in; the route gains 4,200 feet in elevation, so make sure to bring food and water. As you hike, you'll travel through temperate rainforests and old-growth fir, spruce, hemlock, and cedar trees. If you're looking for a shorter day hike, follow the path 4 miles and turn around when you see the Mulkey Trail Shelter. This route is best in the early spring.

  Length: 14.4 miles

  Intensity: Strenuous