Olympic National Park: A Hike Up the Staircase Rapids Trail… Pacific Coast Series #23

/ Curt Mekemson
Olympic National Park has both beauty and diversity ranging from its well known rain forest to high mountains, coastline, lakes, rivers and wildlife. We’ve been there several times over the years and were looking forward to exploring even more of what it has to offer. This photo was take from our kayaks on Cushman Lake which is at the southern entrance to Olympic.

But the best laid plans of “Mice and Men”… You know how that goes. I developed a health issue and decided to go directly to Olympia rather than the gorgeous campsite on a bay near Port Angeles we had reserved for a week. It turns out the issue wasn’t urgent. My doctor in Virginia told us to continue on our trip and see her when we got back.

Fortunately, we were already planning to visit our niece, Christina, who works in Olympia. She is a good friend, as are her brother Jay and her sister Amy. Jay and I have backpacked together. Both Jay and Christina have been to Burning Man with us, and Peggy is Amy’s godmother. Before starting on our West Coast adventure, we had just completed our safari trip to South Africa with their dad John (Peggy’s brother) and his wife Frances!

Christina had taken time off from work as an attorney for the Washington State Attorney General’s office and had a ton of outdoor stuff planned for us. Fortunately, one of these activities included a hike up the Staircase Rapids Trail on the Skokomish River at the southern end of the park.

Moss covered trees are an iconic symbol of Olympic National Park. No surprise, it’s a rain forest! The park receives 100-140 inches a year— more on the coast, less as you journey inland. It is estimated that it takes 70-100 inches a year to create a rainforest. We were hiking on the park’s Staircase Rapids Trail when we took this photo. The trail and Lake Cushman receive around 100 inches a year.
The moss creates a magical world where you half expect to find elves around the next corner. Or Bigfoot.
This was a moss covered root.
Speaking of roots, I wondered if this tree was about to rise up and go wandering. Had we arrived at Fanghorn Forest from Lord of the Rings?
Hmm. Were we about to meet Treebeard?
If so, he was lying down and taking a nap for a year or two.
This was the granddaddy of roots along the trail, however. I half expected to find a dryad/wood nymph playing among the roots.
And did! At no prompting from us, Christian immediately headed over to the tree and started climbing among the roots of the forest giant— like she belonged there.
Given the name of the trail, Staircase Rapids, we expected to find rapids along the trail. And we did. But they were gentle. We had missed the massive runoff from snowmelt in the spring.
Most of the snow had already melted off.
Small rapids have a charm of their own, however.
A bridge across the Skokomish River provided this view.
One brave soul wanted a different perspective. At 81, I decided to pass… Grin.
And depended on my telephoto to bring me up close and personal. That’s it for today. Monday’s post will find us kayaking on Cushman Lake and the Skokomish River just below the Staircase Rapids.
Kayaking on the Skokomish River at the edge of Olympic National Park

17 thoughts on “Olympic National Park: A Hike Up the Staircase Rapids Trail… Pacific Coast Series #23”

  1. Oh the rain forest! The pictures are so green! Years ago, I took a friend through some of the forest. He was from Brooklyn and was very quiet during our visit. I asked him what he was thinking and he said that he would fear that the old branches would come down because they looked so heavy with moss. I enjoyed his Brooklyn perspectives having always lived here in the moss and dew.

    I was sorry to miss you when you came this way but another time. I am glad you did not have a medical emergency! Personally, I have had a few more trips to my doctor than I want but I think I am doing pretty well. I turned 77 this June. I admire you and Peggy and your active lives. Love to you both!

    Wendy

    Reply

    • I can imagine an Easterner being a little concerned, Wendy. Grin. Not so much a Southerner who gets to enjoy Spanish Moss.

      Peggy and I have been lucky on health related issues and dodging bullets here and there. Our philosophy is to keep doing as much as we can while we can and continue to enjoy the world and all it has to offer.

      Reply

  2. Kellen and Cameron’s favourite place in the world is the Olympic rainforest, and Kellen’s deepest desire is to one day find employment in forest or park management there. I do love those mossy branches and fabulous root formations. Thank you for bringing us along, and for reassuring us that your health questions are not urgent.

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  3. What an incredible landscape. I’m still hoping to make it to Olympic NP one of these days. We have good friends who live in Sequim and are willing to be our tour guide. Sorry to hear about your health scare. I know how scary that can be when traveling. Thanks for another wonderful tour.

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  5. I’m glad your health issue ended up being a minor one, Curt. That’s good news. Thanks for the wonderful pics of the Olympics. I’ve driven along the coast, but haven’t explore inland yet. It’s on the list! Thanks for the recommendation of the Staircase Rapids Trail. I’ll keep that hike in mind. 🙂

    Reply

    • Thanks, D. Me too. 😁
      Olympic NP is definitely worth spending some time at. I would have spent much more time exploring the northern and western part of the park but I was happy to make it into the Staircase Rapids trail.

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  7. I suspect Olympic National Park is one of those open secrets a lot of people don’t know about. Too bad you missed out on Port Angeles, I bet you’d have gotten some great views from the other end of the park. Better safe than sorry, though.

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