One of my favorite fall hikes when the river is low enough to ford without getting my shorts too wet. The Sol Duc being a busy tourist area you can fine solitude on this hike, most tourist don't want to ford a river 1 mile into a hike. So as usual didn't see anyone else on this 7 mile RT hike. However it became an obstacle course about 1 mile in just after fording the river.
Between miles 1 and 3, we ate lunch at the campsite at 3.5 miles, we encountered 8 trees that needed to be climbed over. All within 2 feet in diameter so not large but up and over for each one some higher than others. The trail was extremely brushy and spent most of those 2 miles making our way through the ferns and other overgrowth. Trail was still visible when looking down at your feet which you had to so you didn't step in a hole. However sometimes looking off in the distance you'd think there was not a trail there.
Still a very enjoyable hike and love the area at 1.5 miles where there are nice swimming holes, although we didn't stop to linger there. Through most of the hike you feel like and are in an old growth rain forest.
Hopefully a trail crew will take some time to work on this trail and keep it accessible for us to enjoy away from the tourist crowds.
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