Dosewallips to Anderson Pass - 32.0 Miles Round-Trip

Anderson Pass (4,464') is located 16 miles from Dosewallips Road in Olympic National Park. The pass spans a small divide between the Quinault River drainage (west), and West Fork Dosewallips River (east).

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The Dosewallips and West Fork Dosewallips trails join to form a long but moderate route through old growth forest and subalpine meadow to the pass, with several desirable campsites and connections for Lake Constance, Hayden Pass, LaCrosse Pass and Anderson Glacier. The trail continues over Anderson Pass down the Quinault side into Enchanted Valley.

Note: Dosewallips Road is washed out 5.45 miles from the trailhead, and will not be repaired. Hikers must now walk the road to reach the original Dosewallips Trailhead. Mileages given throughout this description include this extra distance:

The trail begins 9.6 miles west of Highway 101 at the Dosewallips washout. A new trail quickly veers right off the road-trail and switchbacks up and down a hump to a registration board (.4 miles).

From here a wide, graded road rises steadily along the river past the Olympic National Park boundary (3.55 miles : 1,320') and Lake Constance Trailhead (3.9 miles: 1,505'). It steepens beside Dosewallips Falls (4.5 miles) and gradually levels into a bottomland at the Dosewallips Ranger Station and original trailhead (5.45 miles : 1,610').

The trail narrows on singletrack past the ranger station to a bridge over Pass Creek (6.35 miles : 1,870'). It winds and rolls to the West Fork Dosewallips River Trail (Anderson Pass) and main fork Dosewallips Trail (Hayden Pass) split (7.25 miles : 1,835'). Follow signs left for Anderson Pass down to the Dose Forks Backcountry Campsite (6.85 miles : 1,736').

It drops from camp to a long bridge just downstream of the West Fork confluence. Once over it rises steadily across forested slopes to a high bridge over a deep gorge in the West Fork, just upstream of the confluence (8.2 miles : 1,880'). This places you on the north side of the West Fork, which you'll follow to Anderson Pass.

The trail rises on mild-moderate grades to a crest (9.1 miles : 2,505'), then drops to the Big Timber Backcountry Campsite (9.45 miles : 2,320'). It runs back up, crests again, then descends gradually to Diamond Meadows Backcountry Campsite (12.1 miles : 2,692').

Enjoy large trees and an open, spongy forest floor between these camps. Trail conditions are generally more varied, rugged and less manicured beyond this point.

The trail wraps around Diamond Meadows to a small sign optioning a footbridge or ford (12.6 miles : 2,740'). The bridge is out, so take the right fork through tall brush across the river and pick up the trail on the south bank. Note this point, which is easy to miss on the return.

The trail narrows on rough cobble through head-high brush that opens over a wide bend in the river. Travel steepens to a footbridge (13.35 miles : 3,015') and negotiates a tricky slide that can be impassable after heavy rain (13.7 miles).

Once over timber suddenly breaks across a big opening in the valley with good views of Mt Anderson and East Peak. A number of waterfalls can be seen spouting from high valley walls. The trail edges back to the river on a steep, rugged climb beside a voluminous cascade. Expect obstacles and overflow on this tight section, which is pinned by the river.

Travel eases above the falls to the Honeymoon Meadows Backcountry Campsite (14.1 miles : 3,527'). Continue straight past several more sites to the last river ford, which places you in Honeymoon Meadows (14.15 miles). The trail levels across the meadow to the LaCrosse Pass Trail split (14.65 miles : 3,627').

It climbs past the junction on steep switchbacks to Camp Siberia, also known as Anderson Pass Camp (15.45 miles : 4,180'). The trail follows signs (right) for the toilet, but it's worth diverting left past the shelter into a cool meadow for a good look at LaCrosse.

The forest thins past Camp Siberia with great views of Mt LaCrosse (6,417') from high, open slopes. It gradually levels and straightens to Anderson Pass and the Anderson Glacier Trail (16.0 miles : 4,464'). Continue a short distance west to see the Quinault River headwaters.