Backpacking Olympic Park

Come join us for an unforgettable six-day backpacking adventure through the Olympic National Park Wilderness in Washington State!

We will arrive in the Seattle area, spend one night car camping near Port Angeles, and then begin our five-night backpacking adventure from the Graves Creek Trailhead near Lake Quinault. We will return to Seattle on Saturday.

Sunday – Car Camping Near Port Angeles

• Travel to Port Angeles.
• We will car camp for one night near Port Angeles.
• During this time, we will:
  • Pick up our wilderness permit.
  • Rent bear canisters free of charge.
  • Prepare our food and gear for the backpacking portion of the trip.
• Since many participants may not have used bear canisters before, I will send a separate message with suggestions on how to pack a canister with six days of food.

Monday (Day1)– Graves Creek Trailhead to Enchanted Valley Area

Approximately 10 miles

• Drive approximately 4 hours from Port Angeles to the Graves Creek Trailhead, north of Lake Quinault.
• Begin our backpacking adventure.
• Hike approximately 10 miles, generally paralleling the Quinault River.
• This section has little appreciable elevation gain.
• There may be several water crossings, so bring Crocs or another pair of water shoes, or be prepared to get your feet wet.

Difficulty: Moderate

Tuesday (Day2) – Enchanted Valley to Honeymoon Meadows

Approximately 6 miles

• Continue hiking along the Quinault River for approximately 4 miles.
• Enter the spectacular Enchanted Valley, known for its beautiful scenery and numerous waterfalls.
• See the historic chalet, which was once accessible by vehicle many years ago.
• Continue toward Anderson Pass.
• We will have a significant climb over the pass, so expect a challenging ascent.
• Camp at Honeymoon Meadows on the west fork of the Dosewallips River.

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

Wednesday (Day3) – Honeymoon Meadows to Upper Duckabush

Approximately 7.5 miles

• Hike approximately 7.5 miles to the Upper Duckabush campsite.
• After approximately 4–5 miles, we will climb LaCrosse Pass.
• Expect another substantial climb.
• The final approximately 2 miles will parallel the Duckabush River.
• Camp at Upper Duckabush.

Optional Day Hike:
For those interested, there is an optional 5–6 mile round-trip hike to a large meadow known as Home Sweet Home.

Difficulty: Difficult

Thursday (Day4) – Upper Duckabush to Marmot Lake

Approximately 5 miles

• This is a relatively short but challenging day.
• We will hike approximately 5 miles while gaining at least 2,000 feet of elevation.
• The map shows at least two river fords, so be prepared for water crossings.
• Camp at Marmot Lake, one of my favorite campsites on the trip.
• There are also two additional nearby lakes to explore:
  • Hart Lake
  • Lake LaCrosse

Difficulty: Very Difficult

Friday (Day5) – Marmot Lake to Pyrites Creek

Approximately 15 miles

• Hike approximately 15 miles.
• Most of the route will be downhill or relatively flat.
• For the first approximately 7.5 miles, we will complete our loop back to the Quinault River.
• We will then retrace approximately the same route we traveled on Day 2, heading back toward Pyrites Creek.

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

Saturday Day(6)– Pyrites Creek to Graves Creek Trailhead & Return to Seattle

Approximately 10 miles

• Hike approximately 10 miles back to the Graves Creek Trailhead.
• Once we reach the trailhead, we will drive back toward Seattle.
• The drive to Seattle will take approximately 3 hours.
• If everyone is hungry after the hike, we can stop in Hoquiam for something to eat before continuing to Seattle.

Difficulty: Moderate

Sunday – Return Flight to Atlanta

• Catch your flight back to Atlanta.
• Trip ends upon departure from Seattle.

Important Gear & Preparation

This is a challenging wilderness backpacking trip with significant elevation gain, river crossings, and several long hiking days. Participants should be comfortable carrying a fully loaded backpack for multiple consecutive days.

Be prepared for:

• River crossings and potentially wet feet
• Significant elevation gain and steep climbs
• Long hiking days of up to approximately 13 miles
• Carrying six days of food
• Using a bear canister
• Variable Pacific Northwest weather
• Remote wilderness conditions

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I’m looking forward to exploring the Olympic wilderness with everyone!

This is a D5 event.  If you sign up for this event, the trip leaders may contact you to guage your level of fitness and to determine whether you are able to complete this event at a moderate pace.  The trip leaders have discretion to remove anyone who they believe would not be able to complete the event at a reasonable pace.

The AOC fee of $25 is due on March 31, 2026.  It is non-refundable.

$25 per person AOC service fee

Does not include airfare, hotel, or transportation to and from the trailheads.  Does not include the cost of a hotel or meals in Wenatchee.