Did Valhalla yesterday from the Dosewallips trailhead. Absolutely brutal, the last mile is especially tiring after the first two 1200+ gain miles. AllTrails clocked about 4900 ft of gain, but I don’t know how accurate that actually is. Would definitely bring a decent amount of food to ensure you’re energized enough. I only had a quarter bag of trailmix, and was starting to feel really sleepy and groggy at the top because I was starving. Anyways, the trail conditions are practically perfect, I’m shocked by how nice the trail was from this start point given its relative unpopularity. There are about 6 or so downed trees, a couple being somewhat difficult to climb around. But overall nothing to be concerned about. There is also one small landslide area about a third of the way up that has brought down a lot of loose scraggly plants that made that section of the trail narrow and easily trippable if you don’t have good balance. The top is completely snow free. As brutal as this hike was, I would definitely do it again, that view of Mount Constance is just too beautiful to avoid.

Trail is in very good condition, with only one big log to climb over.  Berries galore: ripe thimbles near the start and at least three kinds of huckles all the way to top.  Yum.

Summit trail above 5050 pass is loose and sandy, with a bit of loose rock.  Go slow and carefully and you’ll be fine.  Views from the top are definitely worth it. 

Took the stock trail back instead of the log bridge.  It’s brushy, with 4-5 downed trees, but doesn’t have the mini-rock climbs of the main route.  It seems like it’s been a while since stock used it.  Leaves you with a short stream crossing when you get to Tunnel Creek.

I hiked this trail with my 4.5 year old. This is our second time, but was our first time going up to the actual summit. It was unbelievable but I’ll get to that..

The trail is very pleasant and the elevation is mostly gradual. There are many ripe berries along the way. This is why my daughter loves the trail. That, and there is a roaring creek throughout the majority of the trail and it is so beautiful and just boosts the whole vibe. 

It’s not a hard trail. I think the hardest part is the distance. My iPhone and my gps said it’s over ten miles… It gets a little steep up toward the summit, but once you see the views and the wildflowers, you don’t even care. It’s just so amazing up there. You immediately feel your nervous system relax from being up so high and from the mind blowing view. We had the summit all to ourselves. This was such a magical moment to share with my daughter. 

I think it took over six hours round trip because, you know, she has such little legs. This is by far my new favorite trail in the Olympics.

My daughter and I hiked this trail today. There were only two other people that we saw. We hiked up as far as we possibly could, and it was very confusing. There were multiple faint little trails that branched out and didn’t seem like they went anywhere. We definitely didn’t get a 360 view. Could someone explain to me how to climb up to the actual summit? We had a great time, but not finding the way to the actual summit was a disappointment. 

Reached the trailhead at 8:45 on a beautiful Friday and found 3 other cars there.  The trail was in great shape all the way to Valhalla Peak.  It appeared that it had recently been logged out.  I encountered a handful of other hikers.

At the shelter, I found an illegal fire ring.  Fires aren't permitted here because it's above the 3500-ft campfire boundary.  Plus there's a forest-wide fire ban in effect, as there is every summer.  I cleaned up the fire ring.  Folks, if you camp here, please don't build a fire!  Note that the shelter is pretty bare-bones.  It has no bunks, benches or tables, and the dirt floor isn't level.

As I climbed toward Harrison Lake, mosquitoes began to appear, and they were pretty bad at the lake.  As I approached 5050 Pass, blooming beargrass started to appear, and there was a nice display of it on the steep meadow below Valhalla Peak.  The view from the peak was excellent:  Mt Constance, The Brothers, Mt Rainier, Mt Baker, Hood Canal, the Dosewallips valley.  I could even see the skyscrapers of downtown Seattle.

I was back at the trailhead at 3 p.m.