Over-the-Hill Hike Descriptions -- Sep, 2025
Wed, Sep 17 Glines Canyon East Overlook [Mod to Diff] 7-8 / 700'-800' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$5
This hike starts at madison falls and goes up to the Glines Canyon Dam Overlook (Dam removed in 2014) using the Bypass Trail & heading up the Whiskey Bend Rd.
Fri, Sep 19 Deer Hair Rock/Elwha Overlook [Difficult] 6.8-8 / 1450'-1934' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$7
Park near picnic area near Hurricane Hill Trail & hike on the paved trail to 5,757' gaining ~ 600'. Backtrack from top down ~ .1 mi. to the Elwha Trail. This trail drops down to what is called Deer Hair Rock or the Elwha Overlook @ ~ 4,643'. This hike is a reverse hike where you drop ~ 800-1,000'+ to the overlook and then climb back out! Has excellent views overlooking the Elwha River & Valley. Wildflowers can be nice! Couple of steep, scree sections, so poles are most helpful.
Wed, Sep 24 Lillian Ridge [Easy to Mod] 3.2 / 872' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$7
Enjoy majestic mountain panoramas from this relatively low-effort, high-vista hike on the Olympic Peninsula. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/lillian-ridge
Fri, Sep 26 Obstruction Point To Maiden Peak [Moderate] 8 / 800'-900' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$7
Take the Badger Valley trail to the east for a short time rounding Elk Mountain but make sure you don't descend into the valley. Instead, keep going along the ridgeline. The trail rises slowly, revealing amazing views of Mount Olympus and others to the south. Experienced drivers for this windy, narrow mountain road needed.
Over-the-Hill Hike Descriptions -- Oct, 2025
Wed, Oct 1 Striped Peak [Easy to Mod] 7 / 850' n/a ride-$5
Go to the Striped Peak @ 1,166’ (not a real peak but a high prominence), on a newly built trail in this County Park and 1500-acre DNR area. There are also fabulous views of Crescent Bay, towards Vancouver Island across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, etc. One might even get to see Mt. Baker! https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/striped-peak
Fri, Oct 3 Dosewallips Cascades◆︎ [Moderate] 11.4-13.5 / 1200'-1335' NW Forest/Golden ride-$7
This hike is up the Dosewallips River Rd., which turns off before Brinnon. Hike to the Dosewallips Cascades Falls is 5.5 mi. Spring is good time to view falls. Hikers can proceed up to abandoned Ranger Station & Campground another approximate mile, if desired. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/dosewallips-river-road-trail
Wed, Oct 8 Lover's Lane/Sol Duc Falls Loop◆︎ [Easy to Mod] 5.5-6.7 / 450'-700' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$7
Loop from Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort up to Sol Duc Falls and back through the Campground or in reverse! Enjoy the "lush bottomlands and groves of impressive ancient trees" plus some mushrooms and the water of Sol Duc River and Canyon Creek. Afterwards, a stop will be made down the road at the Salmon Cascades to view the salmon jumping the falls--quite a spectacular feat!
Fri, Oct 10 Mink Lake◆︎ [Moderate] 6 / 1550' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$7
This trail leaves from Sol Duc Hot Springs. A shelter at Mink Lake allows for a good turn-around point. Fish may be seen jumping in the lake and perhaps some huckleberries will be alongside the trail on your return trip! Rocky, Rooty trail
Wed, Oct 15 N. Kitsap Heritage Park [Easy to Mod] 6-8.68 / 650'-880' N/A ride-$7
This park has over 800 acres and 10 miles of trails to choose from in one of Kitsap County's largest parks, located between the towns of Kingston and Indianola. There are many possibilities of loops and there is a variety of forest, wetlands, and the headwaters of (2) vital salmon streams: Grovers Creek and Carpenter Creek. The Great Peninsula Conservancy was a leading partner in conserving this area, along with the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, in addition to other agencies.
Fri, Oct 17 Griff Creek◆︎ [Mod to Diff] 7.5-8.3 / 1800'-1955' N/A ride-$5
The steep trail leaves from behind the Elwha Ranger Station @ ~ 2.1 mi.; & it climbs up, equating to about 1,000’/mile (considered difficult)! At ~1.5 miles, you come to a large rock with your first viewpoint towards Elwha Valley. Less than a ½ mile further, is a 2nd viewpoint--a good turn-around point.
Wed, Oct 22 Heart of the Forest◆︎ [Easy to Mod] 5-5.5 / 650'-850' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$5
This is a pleasant nature trail leaving from Loop "E" in the Heart of the Hills Campground @ ~ 1,400'. It offers beautiful, old-growth trees, plenty of fern varieties, and other flora in a rainforest-type ecosystem. While hiking on this trail, carefully cross puncheon walkways, as they can be slippery. Hikers go to a big, fallen tree above Lake Creek, which makes a good turn-around point before leaving the Natl. Park boundary.
Fri, Oct 24 Elbo Creek / Buck Mountain◆︎ [Mod to Diff] 9.3-9.6 / 2824'-2925' NW Forest/Golden ride-$5
This is a moderately difficult hike, especially the first 2.5 miles and then becomes moderate after that point hiking along a F.S. road. There are a couple of viewpoints at ~ the 4-mile mark (Mt. Jupiter, Constance, & the Brothers) and at ~ the 4.5-mile mark, can get views towards Hood Canal & the Cascades. Then, one can continue on up to a cell tower up on Buck Mt. Then, there is a “goat trail” up to a cliff edge for even better views.
Wed, Oct 29 Larry Scott Trail--Milo Curry [Easy] 7.3-7.5 / 350'-400' Discover ride-$5
Can go from Milo Curry T.H. near 4-Corners to Cape George off of Discovery Rd. near Port Townsend and return while passing through horse country and pleasant surroundings! The Larry Scott Trail is to be the beginning of the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) and is also part of the Pacific N.W. Scenic Trail! Total Larry Scott Trail is ~7.3 mi. one way. It is named for a Port Townsend resident and cycling enthusiast who played an important part in the trail.
Fri, Oct 31 Heather Park / Pass◆︎ [Mod to Diff] 8.4-10 / 3600'-3950' Nat'l Park/Golden ride-$5
Hike starts at same parking lot as the Lake Angeles hike. Trail climbs a steep ridge; passes 1/2-Way Rock (not quite 1/2 way) @ 2.2 mi.! Pass an old stone fireplace structure built in 1938 (Heather Park Forest Camp) on a side trail @ 5,300'. Go through a sub-alpine, heather basin known as Heather Park @ ~ 4.1 mi. w/creek and campsites. Go by a prominent pinnacle known as 2nd Top. Make final climb to Heather Pass for good views of the Strait and Mt. Olympus.
NOTE: As with any hike, do your own research on a particular hike and assess whether it is of your hiking ability. Always carry your Hiking Essentials and do not rely on others to bring them for you. Thank you!
DISCLAIMER: OTHH assumes no collective or individual liability for any mishaps on any of their hikes or outings. Please use discretion and be safe. Please read the Hazards & Liability section on the Home page of the OTHH website and refer to the link given and agree to the conditions set forth in that document.
WILDERNESS HIKE: Any hike with a ◆︎ goes into the Wilderness, so there is a Wilderness Regulation of a limit of 12 in a group. Please honor this and divide up.
EARLY START: Watch for an e-mail from the leader(s) ahead of time indicating what time to meet at the Sequim Public parking lot.