Take A Meandering Path Through A Fairytale Forest In Washington To Some Rushing Rapids

If you need to fall in love with Washington all over again, just get lost in nature. Not only are our hiking trails second to none, our scenery is incredibly diverse. Whether you want some fresh mountain air, an ocean breeze, or a quiet forest, you'll find it here.

Olympic National Park is an enchanting wonderland, and the hikes are unreal. Staircase Rapids Loop is an underrated treasure, and the entire trek is breathtaking.

Staircase Rapids is located near Hood Canal, following the North Fork of the Skokomish River.

The loop trail is only 2.1 miles, and it's a fairly easy hike.

You'll love being immediately immersed in the Olympic old-growth forest.

Being surrounded by mosses and ferns creates a very peaceful environment.

The trail sticks close to the river, so the scenery is delightful.

You'll start by heading up the Staircase Rapids Nature Trail, then take the trail to the right and cross a suspension bridge to the the other side of the river.

As you walk, you'll be entranced by the sounds of the river.

The Skokomish is the largest river flowing into Hood Canal, with a significant part flowing through Olympic National Park.

Eventually, you'll reach the rapids.

Depending on the time of year, the water is sometimes startlingly blue.

Speaking of the time of year, you can hike this trail in any season.

Staircase Rapids is open all year, and the winters are fairly mellow and exceptionally gorgeous.

The next time you're exploring the Olympic Peninsula, check out this fantastic trail.

You'll appreciate Pacific Northwest life even more after this experience.

Have you ever explored Staircase Rapids? It's one of many fantastic places to explore on the Olympic Peninsula loop.