Queets River Trail
The Queets River gained its name from a time when the Great Spirit waded across the river.
Plan Around Queets River Trail
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Queets River Trail Details
According to legend, the Queets River gained its name from a time when the Great Spirit waded across the river, then rubbed his legs and threw the mud from them back into the water, thus creating the first people of the Quiatso tribe. The trail that follows this river requires many similar deep, cold-water fords, and leads hikers into some of the most remote and undisturbed territory in Olympic National Park. Traveling through meadows and wild rainforest, this generally level trail features the remains of the old Andrews homestead, great herds of Roosevelt elk, and trees measuring up to 17 feet in circumference. The trail offers a number of backcountry campsites, but has been run into poor repair, rendering the last 1/3 of it somewhat difficult to follow. One of the park's biggest Douglas-fir trees stands about 2.4 miles up valley. Just before Coal Creek, a small trail on the left leads 0.2 mile through rain forest to this humbling giant. It has a diameter of 14 feet, and towers 212 feet.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
15.8 miles
Estimated time
1-2 days
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Queets River Trail
Compare nearby parks around Queets River Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Queets River Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Queets River Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.5 mi away
Sam's River Loop
Flat 2.8-mile loop through temperate rain forest.
11.4 mi away
Quinault Big Cedar Trail
Travel .2 mile on the Quinault Big Cedar Trail to one of the worlds' largest Western Red Cedars.
11.5 mi away
July Creek
Picnic tables and an accessible vault toilet are located near the lake.
11.6 mi away
Lower & Upper Queets Valley Road
The Queets Valley was added to Olympic National Park in 1953 in order to preserve the entire Queets River Valley.
11.6 mi away
North Shore Road
This road into the Quinault section of Olympic National Park runs about 15 miles from U.S. 101.
