08. PINE LAKE

OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST

While pretty little Pine Lake lies in an area of the Olympic National Forestthat was intensively logged in the 20th century, majestic primeval forestembraces its shores. A logging road used to provide access to Pine Lake, but it was decommissioned and converted into a trail. It’s a pleasure to walk andusually void of fellow hikers.

From the trailhead head off through a mix of second growth and patches of old-growth. Admire the construction of the converted road to trail. Engineers constructed bends and curves in the original road bed to better mimic a real trail. And the road bed was restored to original contours in places further obscuring old road cuts.

The Forest Service planted native vegetation along the way too, so that in time it will be difficult to see that this route was once a wide logging road. The trail traverses slopes high above Pine Creek.

At about two miles it enters an attractive grove of old-growth forest. The way then steepens a little breaking stride from its relatively gentle grade to this point.

In another .75 mile the trail leaves the old road bed to traverse a grove of big trees and descend to Pine Lake. The lake is pretty shallow and surrounded by grasses, sedges and other small plants—many planted by the Forest Service along with Washington Conservation Corp crews to help rehabilitate the shoreline from past abuses.

Treat the area with respect by sticking to established paths and not trampling vegetation.

Savor the serenity of the scene. Look for resident waterfowl on the lake’s open waters and in its vegetated coves. Admire Chapel Peak which often reflects upon the lake’s placid waters. Notice too that among the stately conifers surrounding the lake, there does not appear to be any pines. Western white pines valued for their fine wood, were once abundant in the Olympics

and Cascades. But it wasn’t logging that erased them from much of these landscapes—but a Eurasian disease, white pine blister rust that decimated stands of this majestic tree.

It’s quite possible that is what occurred here at Pine Lake. Then again, early pioneers and explorers were also known for misnaming features. Perhaps someone named the lake Pine referring to the area’s evergreens as pines.

Highlights: Solitude Backcountry lake in old-growth forest Distance: 5.8 miles round trip Elevation gain: 700 feet Difficulty: Easy Permits: None Hiking Season: March to December Kid and Dog Friendly: Yes Notes: Forest Road 2361 is gated and closed from October 1 to April 30 to protect wildlife. Off-season, walk or bike the road (adding 3.8 miles round trip) to reach the trailhead. Trailhead Amenities: None Trailhead GPS waypoint: N47 26.270 W123 25.678 Contact: Olympic National Forest, Hood Canal Ranger District; fs.usda.gov/olympic Map: Green Trails Mt Tebo No. 199 Trailhead Directions: From Shelton, travel north on US 101 for 7 miles, turning left at milepost 340 onto the Skokomish Valley Road. Follow for 5.6 miles, bearing right at a V intersection onto Forest Road 23. Continue for 9.3 miles and bear left at a junction with FR 2353. Then continue on graveled FR 23 for 4.3 miles bearing right onto FR 2361. Proceed for 1.2 miles and turn left onto unsigned Spur 200. Follow .7 mile to trailhead.