MUSCOTT BASIN TRAIL

Abandoned fragment, no longer maintained 
Length 2.0 mi/3.2 km 
Access Old Dosewallips Trail 
USGS Map The Brothers 
Agency Olympic National Park

The path begins south of the Dosewallips River at a 
junction (1700 ft/ 518m) with the Old Dosewallips Trail 
near the Upper Jumpoff, the point where the Old Dosewallips 
Trail crossed back to the river's north side. One must ford 
the stream to reach the trail, and caution should be 
exercised. When the river is low and clear, the bottom is 
visible, and it is easy to wade; but when it is higher and 
discolored by glacial silt, it is treacherous because one 
could unknowingly step into a deep hole and be swept 
downstream.

A moss-cushioned boulder beside the trail marks the point 
where it departs from the Old Dosewallips Trail. As it 
traverses the mountainside high above the stream, the route 
parallels the river for about a mile, and one must 
constantly climb over logs that have fallen across the 
path. The ground is padded by hummocks of moss several 
inches thick, and the footpath has been abandoned so long 
that it, too, is covered with thick growths of moss in many 
places.

After crossing a rockslide composed of big, moss-covered 
boulders, the trail climbs a bit, then traverses through a 
stony area. The forest is a mixture of Douglas fir and 
western hemlock; the heavy undergrowth is chiefly salal and 
rhododendron.

The trail goes by several huge boulders composed of pillow 
lava. They are from 30 to 40 feet high, with moss and ferns 
clinging to their sides. Beyond them the trail makes an 
ascending traverse on the steep slope, climbing through 
stands of fir and hemlock where many large boulders, 
cloaked with moss, lie scattered about.

The route then intersects (ca. 1.0 mi/1.6 km; 2100 ft/640 
m) a primitive way trail that climbs up from the 
Dosewallips. One can cross the river at the Dosewallips 
Campground and climb this path to the Muscott Basin Trail. 
Although shorter, it is a poorer approach. Beyond this 
junction the trail turns south, paralleling Muscott Creek, 
and crosses a steep gully that runs straight up and down 
the mountain, then comes out to a more or less open area, 
where the creek is visible below. The trail descends to the 
stream and crosses to the other side (2.0 mi/3.2 km; 2900 
ft/884 m).

The undergrowth along the creek is luxuriant, mostly willow 
and salmonberry. At this point one can look up the valley 
and see the ridge at the head of Muscott Basin.

The trail now ends at the creek crossing, although bits and 
pieces of the old path—mostly obscured by slide alder, 
willow, and vine maple—can be found for another mile or so. 
The path then disappears in a thick tangle of brush. One is 
easily discouraged here. Ahead are seemingly endless, 
impenetrable thickets. However, the hiker who perseveres 
will come out into the more or less open country of Muscott 
Basin, which is a good place to camp.

This is the usual approach to Wild Cat Lake, which is 
located in the next basin to the east, near the head of 
Tumbling Creek. The lake, which contains Eastern brook 
trout, can be reached by climbing over the ridge between 
the two basins.