Spider Lake─Best “web site” on the Olympic Peninsula

Quick Facts:

Location: Olympic National Forest, Hood Canal District

Land Agency: National Forest Service

Roundtrip: 2.0 miles

Green Trails Map: Mount Tebo, WA No. 199

Elevation Gain: 200 feet

Contact: Hood Canal District, Quilcene 

Good to know: Dog-friendly, Kid-friendly, snow free winter hike

Access: From Shelton, head north on US 101 for 7 miles turning left onto the Skokomish Valley Road. Follow for 5.5 miles bearing right onto FR 23. Continue for 9.3 miles to a signed junction. Bear left continuing on FR 23 for 7 miles to a pullout on the right. Trail begins on the opposite side of the road.

In the mid-1990s trail builders resurrected here a portion of an old trail that once traveled up the Cedar Creek Valley and constructed brand new tread to form a 2-mile loop around little Spider Lake. Trailblazing aficionados may find the loop’s three bridges noteworthy for their durability and aesthetics. Bird watchers will enjoy the wildlife-rich lake.

Starting from an unassuming trailhead immediately enter cool old growth forest. In 0.1 mile, come to a junction. Turn right or left and hike a 1.9 mile loop around the lake. Climb above the lake on the east shore and along it on the west shore. Pass big trees and good fishing spots along the way. Gaze up at the surrounding ridges. The intensively logged surroundings offer quite a contrast to the virgin groves surrounding the lake. At the south end of the lake is a junction where a trail steeply climbs a short distance to an alternative trailhead.  Stay awhile and enjoy one of the more quiet spots in the south eastern corner of the Olympics.

For more detailed information on this trail and 135 others around the Olympic Peninsula, pick-up a copy of my detailed, expanded and revised best-selling Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula 2nd Edition