Big Creek — Thursday, Jul. 13, 2017

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

This was my second time doing this trail. The first time we had a heckuva time figuring out if we were actually on the right trail. We were doing the additional mile up to the lookout this trip so we wanted to get a good start. This is quite an uphill hike for us novices. Slightly overcast morning which made us wonder if we'd be able to see anything at the lookout. Once we reach the lookout there was a lovely bench to sit down and have lunch. View was good. The hardest part of this trail is actually figure out if you're on the trailhead. When you arrive to the campground park by the restrooms. There is a sign that says trail but that is also part of the children's walk along the river. When you start on that trail take an immediate right, away from the river, onto and extremely well manicured pathway. It goes for about an eighth of a mile where you will come across yet another restroom on your right. Turn left! You will then come to the trailhead. Once you come to the trailhead you will see a little bridge crossing the river. That is the direction we recommend on the loop - this is the clockwise direction. I highly recommend it. We also did the additional 1 mile up to the lookout. Quite a leg stretcher on the last parts of that. You will come to a Y when you've almost reach the top with no sign. Stay to the left at this point. If you go right you're going and additional 3.5 miles to Mount Eleanor peak. We ran into some gentleman who did this hike, they said there was still snow on the ground and that they did not make it to the top.