North Fork Quinault River Trail

This remote wilderness out-and-back follows the North Fork Quinault River Trail from its trailhead through Wolf Bar, Elip Creek and Sixteen Mile to Low Divide and the Lake Margaret area. The stored line follows the full route one way: about 16 miles to Low Divide, or 16.5 miles to Lake Margaret; returning makes roughly 33 miles. Allow about 24 hours of walking, usually spread over two or three days. For a shorter trip, Wolf Bar is about 5 miles round trip and Halfway House about 10.2 miles round trip on the lower trail.

The upper trail is generally a May-to-September trip, and snow can linger near Low Divide into late June. Overnight travel requires a wilderness permit and an approved bear canister; treat water from the river and creeks. Pets are not allowed on this trail. The North Fork road can close in winter, so check access before driving.

The opening mile is comparatively flat through ferns and salmonberry. The trail then runs near the river, with glimpses up the valley toward Mount Zindorf. A stand of bigleaf maple and western redcedar grows over an old rocky creek bed. Wolf Bar, about 2.5 miles in, has a broad gravel river bar, forest-edge campsites and a natural place to turn back on a short walk.

This stretch climbs and drops around washouts and river gorges. Halfway House, about 2.6 miles beyond Wolf Bar, is the former site of a lodge; it now makes a useful overnight stop and day-hike destination. Wild Rose and Elip creeks are unbridged crossings. Elip has a few campsites, while its privy is across the creek on the south bank.

Stay on the North Fork trail at the Elip Connector junction; that steep connector climbs toward Three Lakes and the Skyline route. Trapper Shelter is farther up-valley, with a couple of small campsites and a privy, but the shelter is for day use and emergencies. Around 12-Mile Flat, Mount Lawson comes into view. A short damaged section has steep drops beside the tread.

The Quinault River crossing near Sixteen Mile is usually knee- to thigh-deep and swift in summer; Sixteen Mile Camp is on the far bank. From there, a strenuous climb on loose, narrow tread reaches forested meadows around 3,600 feet. Another unbridged creek is near the Skyline junction. Camps and a privy are near Low Divide; camping is prohibited at Lake Margaret and Lake Mary.

The route passes through rainforest of western redcedar, western hemlock and Sitka spruce, with bigleaf maple in the lower valley. Bears and Roosevelt elk use this country. At Wolf Bar, compose a photo with the gravel bar and river in the foreground and the forested valley behind it.