First, the best advice I have is to read search4solitude's June 17, 2018 trip report carefully.  It is spot-on in all respects.

To that, I would add the following:

This is a quiet, serene hike, grouse calling the tune.  It is the proverbial "uphill in both directions" (up and over the ridge to get to the lake side, and up a similar 1,300-foot gain on the way back out), so be prepared to work for it.

The roads on the drive in are pretty rough.  FR-23 has plenty of potholes, many big, and the FR-2361-600 spur at the end has many drainage ditches across it, so I wouldn't attempt it in your average low-slung sedan or wagon.  There were a number of rocks and trees partially obstructing the road, too, but I removed what I could.

Again, search4solitude's driving directions were perfect, but Google Maps also finds this hike with surprising accuracy, if you enter Church Creek East Trailhead as the destination (but Google labels the final -600 spur as FR-2326, for some reason, although there is a "600" sign as you turn onto it).

I saw only two other groups of people, both on the Satsop side.  It seems like the Skokomish side is little-used.  That said, the trail is in good condition, if you remember it's a lightly traveled backcountry trail.  There are several large trees down, requiring scrambling over/under/around, but nothing too challenging.  The first one, 1,000 feet or so in (see picture), is probably the worst, only because it has that magic combination of a squeeze to get under but too big to easily surmount.  As you can see, though, hardly enough to make any but the most timid/compromised turn back.  

The first glimpses of snow come at around 2,800 feet, and once you reach the old logging road (3,000 feet), it is fully covered with snow.  It's not difficult to cross, although I did posthole once or twice.  Snow is again intermittent once you veer off onto the trail proper again.

That turn off the abandoned road back onto the trail is easy to miss, but again, the June 2018 trip report was accurate in describing it as about 5 minutes down the logging road on the left.  The cairn (picture) is about midway between the two trail entrances on the old road.  Look for a set of stone steps going up to the left (picture).  Note that the trail doesn't veer immediately into the woods but rather more-or-less parallels the old road just to the side and slightly above, so it's not clear that it's the trail at first, with the snow cover and lack of footprints.

From there, it's a quick 1/2 mile to the top of the ridge.  There's plenty of tree cover, so don't expect sweeping views.  This is not the trail to get those; rather, the beautiful vistas are the woods themselves and around the lake.

The waterfall on the other side of the crest is sweet and soothing, and the lake, once you get down to it through some more quiet forest, is tranquil, save for the occasional fish breaking the surface in search of a fly.  Two hours from car to lake, with a stop for a snack by the waterfall.

Rest up and recover some energy, because, while it seems deceptively gentle on the way down, the hike back up to the top of the ridge on the return is just as challenging as the initial hike up from the trailhead.

It was smoky from the wildfires, but we did not see anyone else on the trail and there was no trash at all on the trail (which sad to say, I always see when I hike in the Cascade regions), so it was lovely. Plus there were ripe huckleberries and thimbleberries!

We had meant to hike Pine Lake, but missed it somehow so we did this one instead. It was a bit more elevation gain than we had planned on, so we did not do the descent all the way down to Satsop Lake as it was so hot and we would have had to do that climb back out again. But the old growth forest is lovely, the fireweed was blooming. 

If you are looking for beauty and isolation, this is the place.

#HikingtheState

     Getting to the lake was somewhat tricky. If you get to Brown Creek Campground, you've missed a turn. There are several ways the directions are written out online, but I found that the directions in my day hike book are the most clear. 

     "Turn west at milepost 340 onto Skokomish River Valley Road. Follow this paved road for 5.5 miles, bearing right onto Forest Road 23. In 1 mile, the pavement ends, in another 1.5 miles it resumes, and in another mile, enter Olympic National Forest. Continue for 6 miles on FR 23, proceeding 4.4 miles. Turn right onto FR 2361 and follow it for 3.4 miles to FR 2361-600 on your left. Follow this spur 2.2 miles to a hairpin turn. The trailhead is on your right."

     Once on the trail, you'll follow a shady and gradual incline. The huckleberry bushes were abundant on this hike. Still another month and a half away from a good harvest by my guess. At 1.5 miles, you'll step onto an old decommissioned logging road. Follow this for roughly 5 minutes and then continue on the trail when it shoots off to your left. Fairly easy to spot, but missing it would be understandable as it's a mostly single track trail. 

     You'll climb for another half mile before reaching the divide between the South Fork Skokomish and Satsop Rivers. Then begins your long descent towards Satsop Lakes. The delta into which the creek empties and Satsop Lake begins is quite overgrown, but I suppose that is understandable this time of year. It isn't hard to navigate, as you can see the lake by this point, but watch your footing on some of the damp logs. 

     The lake is beautiful. Hundreds of newts, and fish were very active, even in the mid day sun. Quite a few rainbows from what I could tell. Probably not many more than 8 or 9 inches, but who knows. The bugs were out in force, so bring repellant if you wish. Didn't see anyone else, and I get the feeling this is a fairly uncommon hike for people to do, so if you desire peace and quiet, this is a hike for you!

   Instagram: neilstallings

For National Trails Day the Olympia Mountaineers completed a trail work party on Church Creek, our adopted trail, clearing brush and debris, removing downed trees across the trail and doing some minor tread repair.  We are happy to report that Church Creek trail is now passable from the eastside trailhead (Skokomish River drainage) to the top of the divide.  There is more work to be done on the westside (Wynoochee drainage).  We were delighted to find avalanche lilies in profusion along the trail at higher elevations and to have several parties of hikers pass us on this generally little-used trail.  The old growth forest along the way is magnificent and the climb offers a great workout with much to enjoy along the way.  Only a few small patches of snow linger near the top but are easily crossed.