Capitol State Forest - Capitol Peak — Wednesday, May. 3, 2023

It was an ideal day to hike through Capitol Forest to the summit of Capitol Peak. With my trusty canine friend, we parked on the main C-Line road where the Divide Trail South crosses going both ways. The trail is in good shape. Designated for motorized access starting May 1st, it’s wide enough to accommodate quad all-terrain vehicles although I encountered no ATVs today. The lower section is in a mature forest but many sections traverse a hillside and allow for good views looking east to south. 3.25 miles and 1500 feet up, the Divide Trail meets the Grunt Trail. From there to the summit, it’s wide open with good views a by-product of last year’s logging. A great hike for those living in South Sound. I like trails in this area because it’s close to home and provides good Spring training in peaceful surroundings. I saw just one other hiker on the 7 miles round trip with 1700 feet of elevation gain.