Cowlitz Divide Trail

Cowlitz Divide Trail climbs from a small Stevens Canyon Road pullout through old-growth forest to Olallie Creek Camp and the Wonderland Trail junction, then returns the same way. Plan about 8.5 miles round trip, around five hours, and 2,440 feet of climbing. This is a long forest walk, not a summit outing: the junction is the turnaround, and the open ridge views begin farther along the Wonderland. For a shorter hike, turn at Olallie Creek Camp after about 2.6–2.8 miles out, for roughly 5.2–5.6 miles total.

The first miles climb fairly gradually over rooted, sometimes loose ground. Around 0.75 mile, a small stream crossing uses a broad log. Near mile 1.6, the trail bends west beside Olallie Creek; the canopy opens a little and you may hear cascades in the creek canyon. A side path crosses logs to the creekside camp around mile 2.7. From there, the main trail climbs more steeply on switchbacks to the Wonderland junction.

Pacific silver fir and western hemlock shade the route, including some trees more than 500 years old. Look for bunchberry, vanilla deerleaf, false Solomon’s seal and Oregon grape; huckleberries can be abundant later in the season. Olallie is a Chinook Jargon word for berry, a fitting name for this forest walk.

The pullout is on the north side of Stevens Canyon Road, about 0.6 mile west of the Stevens Canyon entrance; it holds roughly eight cars and has no services. Restrooms are at the entrance station. There is no food or treated-water service listed along the route, so bring what you need. Park entry fee or pass applies, and pets and bicycles are prohibited on park trails. Overnight stays at Olallie Creek Camp require a wilderness permit; a toilet sits uphill from the group site.