Day Hikes Near Olympic National Park's Staircase Campground

One of my favorite places in the world to hike at is the Staircase campground at Olympic National Park. My family has been camping there annually since I was only a few years old. Although I currently live quite a ways away from this area, I do try to get out and visit every couple of years or so; most recently, I visited the park in August of 2011. These are my hiking recommendations for easy, moderate, and challenging day hikes if you live in Western Washington and are looking for a hike in your local area.

Easy Hike - Shady Lane Trail

If you're looking for an easy hike out of the Staircase campground at Olympic National Park, try the Shady Lane Trail. This hike is about one mile long, for a round trip distance of approximately less than two miles. The hills on this trail are relatively easy, and the pathway is generally wide, with a few exceptions towards the beginning where the river washed out the old trail a few years ago. My little boy was able to make this hike when he was two and a half years old (although at the time, it was a challenge for him). The hike goes to a large logging road, which isn't much of an attraction, but it's the journey that's enjoyable. My brother says that there is a more challenging trail at the end of this one, but I have never taken it.

Moderate Hike - Rapids Loop

If you're looking for a trail that is a little more challenging, try the Staircase Rapids loop, which actually hasn't been a loop for several years; a large storm washed out the bridge quite a while ago. One half of the "loop" leaves from across the bridge next to the main parking lot, the other half of the loop leaves from behind the ranger station. Taking either side will have you hiking a round trip distance of about two miles. This trail does have some steep hills, but is generally safe. My little boy was able to make this trail (with help) when he was two and a half years old; at four years old, he was able to do this trail fairly easily.

If you're looking for an additional challenge, you can continue on the trail beyond where the old bridge used to be; both sides will take you past the area affected by the 1986 Beaver fire. Taking the side beginning past the bridge will take you to Four Stream and beyond; this side does have some challenging sections of trail where you will have to climb over rocks and past fallen trees, but my mom was able to do this hike with a weak ankle (using a walking stick). The other side, past the ranger station, will take you to Flapjack Lakes; while I have never hiked the entire distance, I have hiked about six miles into that trail, and did enjoy the hike.

Challenging Hike - Wagonwheel Lake

If you are looking for a hiking challenge, you might want to try out Wagonwheel Lake, which leaves from near the ranger station. I have hiked this trail twice. It's only 2.9 miles one-way, but it gains about 3000 feet in elevation, and is switchbacks almost the entire way. The first time I hiked this trail, I was in middle school, and my brother was about eight years old. We were only able to complete it out of sheer determination; the trip was so brutal that my mom's toenails fell off a week or so after completing this hike. On the way down, we saw an old man attempting to do the hike with an ice chest on his back. It was towards the beginning of the walk, and he was already huffing and puffing. I doubt that he finished; many people who attempt it never do.

If you want to hike Wagonwheel Lake, I suggest that you take a lot of water with you; you will probably sweat a lot. If you're not in great shape, you may want to consider training for this hike before attempting it; I personally would not try this hike at my current fitness level, or subjecting my four-year old to it, but I would consider going again after getting into better shape. Wagonwheel Lake isn't the most impressive destination, and you're likely to encounter plenty of horseflies on the hike. This is a trail for those people who want a challenge just to be able to say that you've done it. There is a trail that goes beyond this lake, but I have never completed it.