Grove of the Patriarchs Trail

The Grove of the Patriarchs is closed to all recreation after the suspension bridge failed in the November 2021 floods and was removed. The National Park Service lists replacement bridge and trail construction for the 2027–2028 seasons; reopening has not been confirmed. The historical route described below is not currently accessible. Do not cross the river or enter the closed grove.

The Grove of the Patriarchs Trail is an easy 1.1-mile round-trip walk from its trailhead, with a small loop at the far end on an island in the Ohanapecosh River. You follow a forest path to a suspension bridge, cross to the island, then circle among old-growth trees on boardwalk and dirt before retracing the approach. The route gains only about 50 feet. Allow roughly an hour if you want time for the interpretive signs and a slow look around; this is a nature walk, not a conditioning hike.

The first third of a mile follows the Eastside Trail corridor from the parking area. At the junction just before the river, take the Grove branch. Eastside continues north toward longer backcountry routes, so the signed turn matters if you mean to visit the grove. The approach stays in forest and alternates between natural dirt tread and built crossings. Hikers have reported roots and rocks before the boardwalk begins, so watch your footing on that short stretch.

The route's signature crossing is a short suspension bridge over cold, fast-moving river water. It links the trail to the small island; this is not a place to improvise a river crossing. Once across, the path bends through low, damp ground on boardwalk and dirt. The island circuit is compact and nearly level, but it is worth taking slowly. Wooden waysides explain what is happening around you, and the raised walkway keeps the route clear through the softer parts of the forest floor.

The grove holds Douglas-fir, silver fir, hemlock and western red cedar, with a lush understory below the canopy. Some trees are estimated at more than 300 feet tall and over 1,000 years old; those are broad estimates for the grove, not measurements of named trees. A fallen giant makes the scale easier to read: look from the wide trunk to its exposed roots, then back up to the trees still standing. The main payoff is being among the trees, close enough to notice bark, moss and the crowded layers of branches.

The trailhead is at the Grove parking area on Stevens Canyon Road, just beyond Stevens Canyon Entrance. Restrooms are at the lot, and the usual hiking season is May through October. No food or drinking water is listed there. Pets and bicycles are not permitted on park trails, and the island route should be kept to its marked tread and boardwalk.