Queets River Trail - 23.2 Miles Round-Trip

The Queets River Trail leads deep into the most remote and primitive rainforest in Olympic National Park.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

This minimally maintained and lightly used trail is distinguished from the Hoh and Quinault rainforests by lower elevations, near-level grades, large meadows and extensive travel through lush bottomlands.

While otherwise ecologically similar, the Queets has a uniquely wild feel. The Queets River Trail runs approximately 16 miles, a hike that can be taken in parts:

Fording the Queets River

Hikers must ford the Queets River to access the trail and enter the rainforest. The ford is located right at the trailhead, and is generally only safe when river levels drop below 700 cfs.

This typically occurs on a consistent basis from late August - September. While possible at other levels, 700 cfs is the safety line drawn by the Park (horses can safely cross below 1,000 cfs).

Boating over is another option, though your put-in and take-out points must be carefully scouted.

Sam's River joins the Queets River just above the trailhead. Crossing Sam's River first is ideal, as the Queets is considerably wider and more voluminous just below this confluence.

The trailhead is located on a high bank overlooking the confluence, and provides a clear view of the trail on the far side, which is marked by an orange symbol.

It's important to locate the trail symbol before crossing, as it's difficult to reach with precision on the ford, and tricky to find once over.

To reach the water, walk a few yards up the Sam's River Trail to an unmarked spur that branches left down to the river. It's a fairly narrow cross of Sam's River to a gravel bar between the rivers. Then it's a thigh-chest high ford of the Queets to the north bank where the trail begins.

While the river may be passable on the way in, it may not be on the return. Plan accordingly.

From the River Ford to Spruce Bottom Campsite

Once over, the trail runs flat through luxuriant meadows and bottomlands canopied by fir, hemlock, spruce and big leaf maple. Salmonberry, huckleberry, vine maple, ferns and moss fill a variously thick and open understory.

Browsed salmonberry right along the trail indicates uninterrupted elk activity, which is less common in the heavily trafficked Hoh and Enchanted Valley corridors.

Ill-defined stream crossings from 1 - 1.5 miles funnel into an oft-flooded rock gully. This is the first of many points where you must simply test a few different paths to find the correct one.

Travel moderates to Andrews Field (1.75 miles : 352'), a large open meadow. Take note of your entry and exit points, as ribbon markers are easily hidden by the forest on either side.

The trail can vanish in tall grass, and you must distinguish the intended path from elk tracks. Head straight across and re-enter the forest at 1.9 miles (357').

Clarity improves to an unmarked spur for a 17' diameter fir tree, once a record holder before losing its crown in a wind storm (2.3 miles).

The trail crosses streams at 2.45 and 2.85 miles to several river access points from 3 - 4.0 miles. Proximity to the river opens the forest to big leaf maple, which for stretches is the primary tree.

You'll reach a campsite spur at 4.3 miles (385') that leads to a very long, open bank on the river. This spur continues informally across the river to Tshletshy Creek and Smith Place, an old hunting cabin.

The trail undulates ruggedly on to Spruce Bottom campsite, located right along the trail. The site is ringed by several immense fir just inside a bend in the river (5.35 miles : 420').

Both sites have fire rings, sitting logs and easy river access. The site at 4.3 miles can generally accommodate more people.

Spruce Bottom Campsite to Bob Creek

Travel intensifies past the Spruce Bottom site to a creek crossing and surreal alder-meadow (5.7 miles : 414'). En route you'll crest a hill with terrific views up-valley, and of Spruce Bottom - a large beach on the river.

To reach Spruce Bottom, head a few dozen yards into the meadow and cut through to the bank. This is an ideal turnaround point for day hikers, and place to find dry wood for backpackers.

The trail abruptly exits the alder meadow into an ill-defined spillway by the river (6.0 miles : 415'). There's no guidance here, but you'll reclaim the trail by edging toward the river.

Travel resumes through idyllic bottomlands and rugged, muddy intervals to another unmarked spur leading down to the river (6.7 miles : 492'). This is part of the informal loop that begins at the 4.3 mile campsite and crosses the Queets to reach Smith Place on the south bank.

The trail drops steeply past the spur to the edge of a large meadow (6.8 miles : 455'), and up to a high bank with excellent views over major braids in the river (7.05 miles : 460').

It climbs back into a cluttered forest, including a section of disorienting head-high ferns (7.5 miles : 520'). The trail spills into an anomalously bare area dotted with maple (7.8 miles : 485'). Cairns and branches offer guidance, but are difficult to follow.

At worst, continue through to a stream (8.0 miles), where the trail is easy to find by conducting a north-south sweep. Anticipate many stream crossings beyond this point en route to Bob Creek.

The trail enters a large grassy meadow (8.3 miles) and vanishes once again between ribbon-marked entry points (it's clearer once back in the forest).

The trail moves steadily to creek crossings at 8.55, 9.05, 9.7, 9.95, 10.1, and 10.5 miles.

The 9.05 crossing is located just above a confluence with a larger creek that runs parallel to the trail. The 10.1 mile crossing angles upstream, and is worth scouting if water levels are high.

The 10.5 mile (527') crossing leads into a large, grassy meadow ideal for camping. Predictably the trail vanishes, but reconstitutes on the far side near the river.

Grades pitch up to Bob Creek (11.6 miles : 640'), another large meadow where the valley narrows. Unmaintained travel continues 4.6 miles to Pelton Creek Shelter, one of the most remote outposts in the Park.