I was glad to see this trail was cleaned up with the removal of 25 downed trees(! ) as noted in the other write-ups. I tried this hike 2 years ago and I gave up after climbing over/under about 15 of them.
Access to the trailhead is from the Quinault Rainforest Nature Trail. There is parking available for 25+ cars. There is a $5/day fee if you don’t have a NP pass. There are self-service parking fee kiosks. Restrooms are available.
At 0830 on a Sunday morning, I was the only one in the parking lot. You have to walk the Rainforest Nature Trail about 1.3 miles to the trailhead for Willaby Creek. At the start of the trail, you can go left or right. It is a small loop to the main trail. At 1.3 miles, you’ll see the sign for Willaby Creek trail.
There were some muddy spots, but I got a gray day with no rain, so they didn’t get any worse. The trail is much narrower and overgrown than the Rainforest trail. It starts out rocky, but there are several spots of ‘cushioned’ trail – dirt trail with needles and other forest debris that soften the hike. Lots of roots, though.
You’ll hear the creek on the Rainforest Nature trail and then as you hike the Willaby Creek trail, the sounds of the creek will diminish. I heard some birds, but this is a very quiet trail. Though it was 45 deg outside, I really warmed up once I got off the Rainforest trail, but the overgrowth was wet, so I was too and I pushed my way through the trail. Lots and lots of fungi. Lots of fir trees.
The overgrowth is not so much that you can’t see the trail, but I wished I had my hiking poles for this type of hike. The trail is darker due to the overgrowth in spots. You will see planking and log bridges. The trees that were removed made this hike so much easier. You will still walk under one or two, but no crawling required. Some of the downed trees have steps to cross them making it easy peazy!
As you get closer to the end, you’ll hear the river again. Originally, I thought this trail crossed the river, but there was a sign at the end telling hikers the river was the end of the trail.
I did not see anyone on this trail. On my way back down the Rainforest Nature Trail, I saw many groups of people and the parking lot was almost full when I got back to my car. Total mileage for me was 5.2 miles, out and back. This includes the Rainforest Nature Trail to the trailhead for the Willaby Creek trail.
I like this short hike for 3 reasons: 1) Solitude. Not a lot of people hike this trail. 2) Fungi – so much! 3) Quiet.
Comments