Spruce Railroad Trail — Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast

This is an absolutely beautiful hike along an old railroad grade skirting the shore of Lake Crescent. I'm fairly new to hiking, so when I read it was a converted rail bed, I pictured a nice, wide trail made of packed dirt and duff. This trail, while fairly level, is more of a traditional trail and does have some roots, rocks, and the odd pile of fallen talus to traverse. It should be an easy hike for kids, but some parts of the trail are narrow, with a steep fall to the lake on one side, so keep them close. The lake is simply dazzling, unbelievably clear and the most striking shade of blue. Nothing illustrates this more than the passage over the bridge that crosses Devil's Punchbowl. We found the entire trail fairly uncrowded, except for the gathering of swimmers here. Pictures just don't do it justice. Some trail guides mention the peek-a-boo views of the lake through the trees as though this is a disappointment, but there is so much to look at when you're not looking at the lake - mossy boulder fields, twisted, weathered madrones, massive fallen trees of every description, bracket fungus, wildflowers, rockfalls and the associated geology, a small waterfall, and two abandoned rail tunnels that had fallen in. The tree cover is very nice on a sunny day, giving you a few open sunny places to enjoy the lake, but not so many that you risk a sunburn. It was often shady with a nice breeze. There is poison oak along the trail - a lot of it. It is close enough to the trail that you could accidentally brush it, so be careful, and be aware of your dogs, if you take them. Some guidebooks warn of ticks, though we seem to have dodged that bullet today. The Spruce Railroad Trail is 4 miles in (and 4 miles out). At the 4-mile mark, it connects to a newer, paved section of the old rail bed. We contemplated parking a car at both ends and through-hiking the 11 miles or so, but in the end, I am glad we didn't. The paved portion would be of interest to bicyclists, but after such a lovely hike hugging the lake, the pavement leaves the shoreline and instead follows above Camp David Jr. Road. It just didn't feel as natural and lovely as that first 4 miles. There is a vault toilet and a picnic area at the trailhead.