Wow, this trail isn't the easiest to find, even using the guidelines above. Used a WA Gazetteer to trace our steps through forest service roads. Luckily we got there on our first try, but the last spur off the main road twists for a while and the trailhead is actually at the very end of the spur, not at a hairpin. The first 1.5 miles are awesome - a steady climb through some fantastic 2nd-growth forest (there's really no such thing as 'old growth' these days, but these trees are impressive). Winding up the ridge through very large cedar, doug fir and hemlock and some really awesome snags was a lot of fun. Passed some folks picking berries, and they were abundant. Then passed some more folks with a dog. Neither group bothered to mention the swarm of horseflies that was waiting up in the meadow above. We didn't make it to the lakes that are about 2.5 miles in b/c the flies were too thick. We had to turn back and had the flies trailing us for almost the whole way back down, during which we actually passed both other groups heading back home themselves. Going to have to try this one again in either very early season or in the fall after the bugs back off a bit. The forest is beautiful, there are some views to be had here and there, and the trail is enough of a workout to make it worth the drive. Actually kind of surprised this isn't a designated wilderness area given the environs we encountered, but it is good as any of the wilderness areas we've been into this season.

We started in a very secluded parking lot and started our adventure over an Olympic Mountain pass to find Satsop Lakes. The parking lot is in the headwaters of the Skokomish River that drains into the Hood Canal, while the water at Satsop Lakes drains into the Chehalis River: pretty neat. The trailhead isn't marked, but is well maintained. For the first mile, we climbed through old stands of firs and meadows of huckleberries. The second mile was pretty much the same, but we were going downhill. There wasn't any flowing water after the first half mile until you get to the first lake. Also, there were a fair number of biting insects, but nothing too heinous. We didn't see anyong else, hear any cars, or even an airplane. That's a pretty tough find for western washington on a weekend!

Two minutes of video highlights: http://youtu.be/kVK8EtZsqIM Perfect timing - half the rhododendron blooms covered the trail like a wedding carpet, and the other half were still going strong on the plants! Road has several bad stretches of washboard/potholes. Trail is in great shape. Along with the rhodies, I saw paintbrush, mariposa lilies, vetch, penstemon, wild strawberry and a few others. Watch for glimpses of Baldy and Tyler peaks through the trees on one side and Deer Ridge on the other.

This trail still has quite a lot of snow. Lots of blow downs to get around. Trail has water issues in places right now also. Blueberries are starting to fruit at lower elevation and plants are starting to come out of dormancy with Trillium showing first.

We started in a very secluded parking lot at the end of FS600 and started our adventure over an Olympic Mountain pass to find Satsop Lakes. The parking lot is in the headwaters of the Skokomish River that drains into the Hood Canal, while the water at Satsop Lakes drains into the Chehalis River, and then the Pacific Ocean: pretty neat. The trailhead isn't marked, but is well maintained. For the first section, we climbed through old stands of firs and meadows of huckleberries. The section was pretty much the same, but we were going downhill. There wasn't any flowing water after the first mile until you get to the first lake. Also, there were a fair number of biting insects, but nothing too heinous. We didn't see anyong else, hear any cars, or even an airplane. That's a pretty tough find for western washington on a weekend! The are no signs, save a random FS "equal employement" laminate a few yards down the trail. It looks like there's been solid trailcrew work for the first mile or so, then it gets more overgrown. It's pretty easy to follow, though. I think the trail follows a different route than what's shown on the map on the second section, after you cross the pass.