Wynoochee Pass Trail

The Wynoochee Pass Trail is a 5-kilometre point-to-point trail in Olympic National Park, Washington, United States, climbing approximately 490 metres of elevation as it ascends from old-growth forest to the high, meadow-fringed Wynoochee Pass. Rated moderate, it links the Wynoochee drainage with the Quinault valley, threading through some of the finest stands of Silver Fir and Mountain Hemlock in the Pacific Northwest.

About the Wynoochee Pass Trail

The Wynoochee Pass Trail crosses one of the quieter corners of Olympic National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. Beginning at the park boundary above Wynoochee Lake, the trail climbs through cathedral old-growth forest before cresting at Wynoochee Pass (approximately 1,097 m / 3,600 ft) and descending into the Quinault drainage, where it meets the Graves Creek Trail and the spur to Sundown Lake.

At 5 km end-to-end, this is a short but rewarding route — dense with ancient Silver Fir, Western Hemlock, and Mountain Hemlock, laced with feeder streams and seasonal waterfalls. The forest here is largely undisturbed, part of the temperate rainforest ecosystem that defines the south-facing slopes of the Olympic Mountains. Operated by the U.S. National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, the trail is designated within the Regional Walking Network and sits at the junction of several longer wilderness loops.

Because the trailhead requires driving a forest service road north of Wynoochee Lake, visitor numbers stay low even in peak season. Hikers who make the effort are rewarded with old-growth solitude that is increasingly rare in the Pacific Northwest. The trail is classified as point-to-point, meaning a car shuttle or out-and-back return is required unless you are continuing deeper into the Quinault wilderness.

Route Overview & Stages

The trail runs south to north, climbing from the Wynoochee Valley to the pass before dropping to the Graves Creek drainage. All three stages pass through National Park wilderness; the first kilometre also crosses a short stretch of Olympic National Forest land managed by the U.S. Forest Service as Trail #874.

The steepest section is Stage 2, particularly the final 500 m before the pass where the gradient averages around 20%. Trekking poles are worthwhile here, especially when the trail is wet — a near-constant state outside of the July–September dry window.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Wynoochee Lake Viewpoint (km 0.3) — Before the forest closes in, a brief clearing above the trailhead offers views south across Wynoochee Lake, a reservoir fed by the Wynoochee River and surrounded by forested ridges.
• Olympic National Park Boundary (km 1.0) — A small boundary sign marks the transition from National Forest to National Park land. The forest becomes noticeably denser and older from this point, with the understorey richening in ferns and oxalis.
• Old-Growth Silver Fir Grove (km 1.4–2.0) — The stand-out stretch of the trail: towering Abies amabilis with trunks over 1 m in diameter, draped in club moss, with the floor carpeted in wood sorrel. Few forests of this quality remain accessible to day hikers.
• Feeder Stream Crossings (km 1.6 and km 2.1) — Two seasonal streams cross the trail on unbridged fords. Both run fast in spring and early summer; by August they reduce to a trickle. Expect wet feet if visiting before mid-July.
• Cascade Falls (km 1.9) — A 12 m waterfall is visible from the trail through the canopy. There is no maintained spur, but the sound alone makes this a worthy pause point on the climb.
• Wynoochee Pass Mini-Meadow (km 3.5) — The pass opens into a small subalpine meadow at roughly 1,097 m. Wildflowers — including paintbrush and lupine — bloom from late June through August. On clear days, the views south over the Wynoochee Valley extend to the foothills beyond.
• Graves Creek (km 4.6) — An unusual hydrological feature: Graves Creek runs partly underground in late summer, its channel audible beneath the gravel bar. During high flow in May and June, the stream must be forded — normally knee-deep at most.
• Sundown Lake Trail Junction (km 5.0) — The endpoint of this trail is also the start of a 3.2 km spur that climbs a further 350 m to Sundown Lake, a cirque lake ringed by rocky ridges and open meadow. An overnight here transforms the day hike into a memorable two-day wilderness trip.

Best Time to Hike the Wynoochee Pass Trail

The Olympic Peninsula runs on a maritime climate: heavy precipitation from November through April, a drier window from mid-June through September, then rising cloud and rain returning in October. The Wynoochee Valley receives over 3,000 mm of rain annually — among the highest totals in the continental United States — so trail conditions vary enormously by season.

July is the single best month to hike the Wynoochee Pass Trail. The snowpack on and around the pass has typically cleared by late June, the meadow wildflowers peak in the first two weeks of July, and daytime temperatures at the pass stay comfortable at 12–18 °C. Stream crossings are still running but easily manageable for most hikers.

August and early September offer the driest underfoot conditions and the lowest creek levels, making the unbridged crossings simple. These months are also the busiest, though the remote trailhead keeps daily visitor counts low — often fewer than a dozen hikers per day even on summer weekends.

Late June can be excellent but snow patches may persist on the upper switchbacks approaching the pass. Check the Olympic National Forest trail conditions page for current snow and access reports before departing. As of 2026, late spring snowpack in the Olympics has been running below historical averages, meaning the trail often opens 1–2 weeks earlier than in previous decades.

October is possible but expect rain, muddy footing, and early darkness. Autumn colours in the forest are striking — vine maple turns yellow and orange throughout the understory — but the pass can receive early-season snow from mid-October onward.

November through May: the upper trail is typically snow-covered and the approach road may be seasonally gated by the Forest Service. Not recommended without avalanche awareness and full winter mountaineering gear.

Practical Information

Accommodation

There are no huts or lodges on the Wynoochee Pass Trail itself. Overnight hikers use designated wilderness campsites; the nearest established backcountry camp is at the Graves Creek junction at km 5.0. The backcountry camping fee in Olympic National Park is $5 per person per night (approximately €4.60), payable in addition to the standard park entrance fee, with a Wilderness Permit required.

The nearest frontcountry option is Graves Creek Campground, accessible from the Quinault side of the park via South Shore Road. It offers basic sites with pit toilets and bear boxes for approximately $20/night (€18.50). Reservations are recommended for July and August via Recreation.gov.

For hikers preferring a roof, Lake Quinault Lodge on South Shore Road sits roughly 20 km from the Graves Creek trailhead. Rooms start around $220/night (€204) — a classic 1926 lodge set directly in old-growth rainforest, with dining and lake views.

Getting There & Back

The trailhead at Forest Service Road 2270-400 is accessible only by private vehicle. There is no public transport to this trailhead.

From Olympia (WA): Drive north on US-101 toward Shelton (~19 miles), take the Dayton-Matlock exit and continue on Dayton-Matlock Road then Matlock-Deckerville Road (~24 miles combined), turn right onto Cougar-Smith Road to Forest Service Road 22, then follow FS-2270 north past Wynoochee Lake to the 400 spur at the park boundary. Total driving time from Olympia: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.

From Aberdeen (WA): Drive east on US-12 then north via the Wishkah or Wynoochee Valley roads to connect with FS-22. Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes from Aberdeen.

Nearest airport: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), approximately 2 hours 30 minutes by car. Car hire is essential — no shuttle services operate to this trailhead. The small regional airport at Aberdeen/Hoquiam serves limited connections and is 1 hour 15 minutes away.

As this is a point-to-point trail, hikers completing the full traverse emerge at Graves Creek on the Quinault side and need either a two-car shuttle or pre-arranged transport. The Graves Creek trailhead is reached via South Shore Road off US-101 near Amanda Park — approximately 45 minutes of driving from the Wynoochee trailhead.

Permits & Fees

A valid America the Beautiful Pass (~$80 / €74 annually) or a 7-day Olympic National Park pass ($30 / €28 per vehicle) is required to enter the park. Day hikers do not need a separate hiking permit.

Overnight hikers must obtain a Wilderness Permit from Olympic National Park: $6 per party plus $5 per person per night. Self-registration is available at the Graves Creek Ranger Station on the Quinault side. Advance reservations via Recreation.gov are strongly recommended for July and August when backcountry sites fill on weekends.

No additional permit is required for the National Forest section of the trail.

Gear & Packing List

The Olympic Peninsula's famously unpredictable weather makes rain gear and an insulating layer non-negotiable even in midsummer — afternoon cloud can arrive without warning and temperatures at Wynoochee Pass drop quickly after midday. For a day hike, a 20–28 L pack is sufficient. For an overnight at Graves Creek or Sundown Lake, step up to 40–55 L to accommodate a bear canister, sleeping system, and extra layers.

For lightweight day trips, the Salomon ADV Skin 20 keeps weight minimal while fitting the day's essentials comfortably. For one-night trips where saving weight on the 490 m climb matters, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Windrider sheds Pacific Northwest rain effectively thanks to its DCF shell construction. For a full two- or three-day loop that includes Sundown Lake, the Osprey Aether 65 carries a bear canister, extra layers, and cooking gear without straining the hip belt. For a broader comparison of lightweight options before you choose, see the Best Ultralight Backpacks 2026 guide.

Essential kit checklist:

• Waterproof jacket and trousers (Pacific NW rain arrives without warning, including in July)
• Trekking poles (useful on the steep Stage 2 climb and at the unbridged stream crossings)
• Water filter or purification tablets (multiple reliable streams on the ascent)
• Bear canister or Ursack (required for overnight trips in Olympic NP backcountry)
• Gaiters (recommended May–July when the trail surface runs wet and rooty)
• Insulating mid-layer (pass temperatures can drop 10 °C within an hour when cloud moves in)

The 490 m of elevation gain burns significantly more energy than flat distance suggests — calorie planning matters. See How Many Calories Do You Need Hiking a Full Day? for a detailed breakdown by body weight and gradient.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Wynoochee Pass Trail appeals for its combination of old-growth forest, a defined mountain pass, and a manageable point-to-point format, these US trails share one or more of those qualities. For dramatic canyon scenery with sustained elevation change, the South Kaibab Trail and North Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park offer an unforgettable point-to-point pairing across one of the world's most iconic landscapes. For high-country views in Yosemite, the Clouds Rest Trail rewards the climb with one of the park's most expansive granite panoramas, while the Panorama Trail delivers an accessible ridge walk above Yosemite Valley with waterfalls along the route. For a shorter, more technical outing in Zion, Hidden Canyon threads through a narrow sandstone slot — different terrain entirely but a comparable trail length and similarly low visitor numbers relative to the surrounding park.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Wynoochee Pass Trail?
July is the best month. Snow typically clears the pass by late June and the meadow wildflowers peak in early July. August and early September offer the driest conditions with the lowest stream levels. Avoid November through May unless you have winter mountaineering skills — the upper trail carries significant snowpack and the approach road may be gated by the Forest Service.

How difficult is the Wynoochee Pass Trail?
The trail is rated moderate. The 5-km distance is manageable for most reasonably fit hikers, but the 490 m of elevation gain concentrated in Stage 2 creates a steep climb. The unbridged stream crossings add difficulty in spring and early summer. Good footwear with ankle support and trekking poles make the ascent noticeably easier, especially on the wet, rooty trail surface.

How far is the trail, and can I do it as a day hike?
The trail is 5 km point-to-point. A fit hiker can complete the traverse in 3–4 hours, making it comfortably manageable as a day hike. The main logistical challenge is the car shuttle between the Wynoochee trailhead (Forest Service Road 2270-400) and the Graves Creek trailhead on the Quinault side — approximately 45 minutes of driving. Many hikers choose an out-and-back from either end to avoid the shuttle.

Is there accommodation on or near the trail?
There are no huts on the trail. Backcountry camping is available at the Graves Creek junction for $5 per person per night (€4.60) plus the park entrance fee, with a Wilderness Permit required. The nearest frontcountry campground is Graves Creek Campground on the Quinault side, approximately $20 per night. Lake Quinault Lodge, roughly 20 km from the Graves Creek trailhead, provides the nearest lodge accommodation at around $220 per night (€204).

Do I need a permit to hike the Wynoochee Pass Trail?
Day hikers do not need a separate permit but must pay the Olympic National Park entrance fee: $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass, or use the America the Beautiful annual pass ($80). Overnight hikers need a Wilderness Permit ($6 per party plus $5 per person per night), available via self-registration at Graves Creek Ranger Station or in advance through Recreation.gov during the July–August peak season.