Place · 4.3 mi away
Why this trail
If you’re after solitude and classic Olympic forest vibes, this is your lane. The Wynoochee Pass Trail climbs from a quiet trailhead in Olympic National Forest and enters Olympic National Park about 0.3 mile in. From there, it winds through lush, moss-draped old growth and second growth with the headwaters of the Wynoochee River nearby, switchbacking toward the pass. Expect a deep-woods experience: shaded, green, and quiet.
Mileage isn’t consistently published for a standard out-and-back. One guide lists a 5.3-mile loop variant (about 3.9 hours), but most people just hike to the pass and return. The tread can be rough, rooty, and muddy with blowdowns and brush—maintenance is lighter here than on the park’s marquee trails—so the day feels more rugged than the mileage might suggest. Views open a bit as you near the pass, with glimpses toward ridges and peaks like Mount Hoquiam and Discovery Peak on clear days.
On the trail
This is a hiker-only path once you enter the park. The forest canopy is the star—ferns, moss, cedar, hemlock, and Douglas-fir line a cool, shaded corridor with small creeks and seeps. Just beyond the pass are small ponds. Skilled navigators sometimes continue on a faint, unofficial way trail toward Sundown Lake and the Graves Creek drainage; that extension is not signed or maintained and requires route-finding.
Plan and prepare
Access is via Forest Road 2270 (ending at the Wynoochee Pass Trailhead; the spur is signed as 2270-400). These roads can be rough or washed out after storms—check conditions before you commit. Cell service is unreliable. Bring navigation, extra layers, and enough food and water for a slower day than you might expect. Bugs can be lively in early summer.
Best time to hike
Late spring through early fall is best. Summer (July–September) brings the driest tread and most reliable road access. Early summer can hold lingering snow up high. Fall adds color but also more rain and mud. Winter is generally not recommended due to snow and access issues.
Who will love it (and who won’t)
Experienced hikers who like quiet, lightly traveled trails and don’t mind rough tread will be happy here. If you prefer well-manicured paths with big payoff views, you’ll likely find this one underwhelming until you crest the pass—and even then, it’s more about mood and wilderness than panoramas.
Pros
- Small ponds just beyond the pass add a serene destination
- Consistent shade and lush forest keep the hike cool even on warm days
Cons
- Light maintenance means blowdowns, brush, and muddy sections are common
- Views are limited until near or just past the pass
Parking
Park at the Wynoochee Pass Trailhead at the end of Forest Road 2270-400; roads can be rough and occasionally washed out, so check conditions before you go. No reservations required.
Caution
Rough, sometimes muddy tread with blowdowns and brush; unreliable cell service; forest road access can wash out after storms; lingering early-season snow near the pass; beyond the pass toward Sundown Lake is an unmaintained way trail requiring route-finding.
