Home Sweet Home
Bear haven in Olympic National Park
Quick Facts:
Location: Olympic National Park
Land Agency: National Park Service
Distance: 27.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 4300 feet
Contact: Olympic National Park www.nps.gov/olym
Map: Green Trails Olympic Mountains East 168SX
Notes: dogs prohibited; National Park entry fee (or Interagency pass) and Backcountry camping permit for overnight camping
Access: From Shelton, travel north on US 101 for 15 miles to Hoodsport. Turn left onto SR 119 proceeding 9.3 miles to a T-intersection with FR 24. Turn left continuing on SR 119 until it ends in 1.7 miles; then continue on graveled FR 24 for 3.7 miles. Then bear right coming to the trailhead at the Staircase Ranger Station in 1.2 miles.
Good to Know: kid-friendly, exceptional old-growth, exceptional backpacking opportunities, exceptional wildlife habitat, practice Leave No Trace Principles, summer wildflowers,
Follow the North Fork Skokomish Trail retracing part of the O’Neil Party’s 1890 exploratory route which helped led to the establishment of Olympic National Park. Then push on to Home Sweet Home which has changed little since O’Neil’s passing.
The North Fork Skokomish Trail is one of the more popular routes in Olympic National Park; but the crowds rapidly thin the farther upstream you hike. Start up the North Fork Skok crossing the first of many side creeks. There is no lack of water on this route. Pass the Flapjack Lakes Trail which siphons off scads of hikers. After passing Spike Camp, enter impressive old-growth forest. After crossing Madeline and Donahue Creeks come to a spur trail leading to Big Log Camp along the river.
Proceed straight crossing the North Fork Skokomish on a good bridge above an impressive chasm. Then bear right at a junction and continue hiking along the river through maple glades. At 6.8 miles reach riverside Camp Pleasant; which really is a pleasant spot. It can also be reached late in the fall or early in the spring when the high country is still covered in snow.
Continue easy walking along the river and through gorgeous old-growth arriving at Nine Stream Camp at 9.7 miles. From here on, the mood changes. The trail now steeply climbs. Pass Two Bear Camp. In autumn expect to see a couple of bears or more in the meadows and huckleberry patches that follow.
The way continues climbing crossing pocket meadows with growing views south down the North Fork. Skirt a pretty tarn before cresting 4,700-foot First Divide. Then steeply descend 500 feet into the sprawling meadows of Home Sweet Home. Set up camp and enjoy the view of a cascade tumbling down from 6,114-foot Mount Hopper. Admire too, 6,223-foot Mount Steel across the green carpet. Home sweet home indeed. If you have more time and energy press on for Lake LaCrosse and other points deep in the Olympic wilderness.
For detailed information on this and many other classic multi-day hikes, pick up a copy of my best selling Backpacking Washington 2nd edition book.
