Lower Gray Wolf River — Thursday, Apr. 23, 2009

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

I parked at the Gray Wolf trailhead and walked down the trail. It was a bit muddy in spots and there were lots of blow-downs that had all been cleared away: Thank you trail crews. It took me about half an hour to reach the river. The Gray Wolf River was a tumbling, frothy river with a greenish blue hue. Moss hung from the branches and ferns were everywhere. A bald Eagle flew to tree above me and sat patiently, searching the valley for its next meal. I walked for an hour and a half and at four and a half miles from the trailhead the bridge crossing the river had been washed away. The steep valley sides were hundreds of feet high. I could travel no further up-river. Access to the Olympic National Park through the Gray Wolf River trailhead isn’t possible without that bridge. Tthere are some alternative trailheads that drop down into the Gray Wolf River valley further upstream like Slab Camp Trail. I’m going to try that one next time. I really enjoyed hiking in the Gray Wolf River valley. Replacing the Gray Wolf trail bridge would be nice.