Parking
Use Staircase Trailhead for road access. The Flapjack Lakes approach is listed at 7.5 miles one way; the Smith Lake segment begins at a backcountry junction along that route. The 4.4-mile trail distance excludes the approach.
Overview
About Black & White, Smith Lake Trail
Why go
- The ridge near Black and White Lakes opens views over the lakes and North Fork Skokomish Valley.
Heads up
- Narrow brush, stream crossings, and a steep rocky descent make the connector demanding.
Black & White, Smith Lake Trail is a rough 4.4-mile out-and-back from the Flapjack Lakes Trail junction. The named connector is 2.2 miles one way, climbing through the Black and White Lakes area before dropping to Smith Lake. Allow about 4 to 5 hours for the connector itself. This is a remote backcountry extension, not a short walk from a parking area.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Olympic map
Full mapElevation3,435–4,544 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
6 active Olympic alerts
- CautionUS 101 Hoh River Bridge reduced to one laneUS 101 at the Hoh River Bridge is restricted to one lane of alternating traffic; obey the signals and 25 mph speed limit.Official details
- ClosureStaircase wilderness trails and campsites remain closedWilderness trails and campsites around Staircase remain closed during recovery from the Bear Gulch Fire; the developed Staircase area, including the Rapids Loop, campground, and ranger station, is…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Olympic Tour Guide
Your drive to Black & White, Smith Lake Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Olympic National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Olympic audio tourMore stories near here in the app
- Staircase: Rapids and the Fallen Cedar
- The Bark That Holds Back Heat
- Lake Cushman Site Five: A Picnic by the Water
- 204 audio storiesacross Olympic’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Olympic Marmot, Humpback Whale, Grey Whale, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 148 trails, 94 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Black & White, Smith Lake Trail
The climb and descentThe trail rises from about 3,500 feet to a high point near 4,400 feet, then drops to Smith Lake…
The trail rises from about 3,500 feet to a high point near 4,400 feet, then drops to Smith Lake around 3,950 feet. Expect narrow, brushy tread and several stream crossings; you may need to rock-hop or get your feet wet. Past Black and White Lakes, the descent to Smith Lake is steep and rocky. Some hikers turn around above the lake rather than take on the last slope, so judge that section before committing to it.
Where the views openBlack and White Lakes sit near a ridge with views back toward the lakes and across the North…
Black and White Lakes sit near a ridge with views back toward the lakes and across the North Fork Skokomish Valley. That ridge is the clearest payoff on the connector. Smith Lake is the destination, but the route’s difficult final drop means reaching its shore is not a casual finish.
Plan the accessThe road access is Staircase Trailhead; the Flapjack Lakes approach from there is listed at 7.
The road access is Staircase Trailhead; the Flapjack Lakes approach from there is listed at 7.5 miles one way. The Smith Lake connector begins at a backcountry junction on that route, so add the approach separately: the 4.4-mile figure covers only the return from the junction. If you camp at Flapjack Lakes, it is a quota area and requires a wilderness permit and reservation; bear canisters are required, and campfires are prohibited above 3,500 feet.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Olympic
710 sightingsOlympic MarmotMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
30 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
42 sightingsGrey WhaleMost seen around noonSighting map
23 sightingsMountain LionMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
71 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
306 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Olympic. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
