Deer Ridge Trail

Deer Ridge Trail #846 is a point-to-point ridge walk from the Slab Camp/Deer Ridge Trailhead to Deer Park. Published one-way distances range from 4.8 to 5.2 miles, so plan for about five miles. Expect roughly 2,800 feet of climbing and allow about five hours one way. Arrange a shuttle at Deer Park, or turn around at the Gray Wolf overlook for a shorter out-and-back; walking all the way back makes a nearly ten-mile day.

The path leaves the trailhead through a meadow and climbs onto a ridgeline. The first 1.5 miles are gentler and pass through spring and early-summer rhododendrons; then the grade gets steeper. Another stretch through open forest offers few views before a final steep push and switchback reach the Gray Wolf valley overlook. Two benches sit above the view. One remembers Phil Hall, a Sequim resident who worked to keep the trail accessible and maintained. The overlook is the natural turnaround if you are not continuing to Deer Park. For a photo, keep some of the rocky tread in the foreground and let the valley open behind it.

From the benches, the trail continues uphill for about 0.6 mile to the park boundary. Beyond it, the route drops briefly, then climbs through open rockfields and meadows. Stonecrop and phlox grow among the rocks; chocolate lilies, columbine, buttercup and lupine appear in the meadows. About 1.2 miles past the boundary, the trail meets Three Forks Trail. Follow its short connector to the Deer Park campground and parking area.

Deer Park sits in the drier eastern Olympic rain shadow. During the last ice age, glaciers filled the valleys while some high ridges remained isolated like islands, helping preserve species found only on the Olympic Peninsula. Olympic bellflower grows in the Deer Park highlands, alongside other locally distinctive plants and animals. Marmots were once common here but are now rarely seen.