MOUNT OLSON TRAIL Abandoned trail, no longer maintained Length 8.5 mi/13.7 km Access Six Ridge Trail USGS Map Mount Olson Agency Olympic National Park This trail provides access to splendid high country that is remote from the well-traveled paths and thus not overrun with visitors. This solitude is due in part to the fact that one has to make a strenuous trek just to reach the trail. The part from Six Ridge to Lake Success is in fair condition, but the section between the lake and the East Fork Quinault River has been abandoned and is impossible to follow in places. The trail begins on Six Ridge at the point (4400 ft/1341 m) where the Six Ridge Trail leaves the ridge, starting its descent to Camp Belview. As the Mount Olson Trail follows the ridge, it goes through meadowland having an abundance of beargrass and heather. The trees are mostly scattered mountain hemlocks. The views are excellent and include the Three Sisters to the south. The ridge narrows gradually to a spine a few feet wide, where the slopes fall away sharply on both sides and one can look directly down on Six Stream on the south or Seven Stream on the north. The terrain is unusual, characterized by upright formations of rock and deep slump holes that are filled with heather or snow. Beyond this spine like ridge the trail crosses the upper edge of a large meadow, where the path is not well defined, then switchbacks steeply as it climbs to a promontory (4900 ft/1494 m) just below Bruins Peak. Across the headwaters of Success Creek, Mount Olympus marks the horizon, rising above the gap between two nearer peaks. The trail skirts below Bruins Peak on the north side, then crosses shale slopes, rockslides, and snowfields as it traverse westward beneath rock buttresses. The route now turns north, climbing to a notch in the divide between Success Creek and Seven Stream. The view down the valley of Seven Stream includes the Sawtooth Range, Mount Skokomish, and Mount Stone. At this point one can he misled by a blazed and flagged game trail that goes down into the headwaters of Seven Stream. The correct route stays high, however, more or less following tie ridge. As the trail contours north, Lake Success is visible below, near the lower edge of the basin on the western side of the divide. The trail then descends to the lake (3.0 mi/4.8 km; 4200 ft/1280 m). The little tarn is roughly rectangular in shape, with rockbound shores, and a campsite is located on the west side. The lake is surrounded by beautiful subalpine country, where mountain hemlocks stand as isolated specimens and in little clusters. The rolling heather meadows become masses of pink blossoms in late July, mixed with the white heads of beargrass, which is abundant but often cropped close by the elk. Wildlife tracks are everywhere—and the animals themselves can be observed on occasion. The view from the low ridge south of the lake is splendid—one looks down Success Creek toward the Quinault. The roughness of the canyon's steep walls is masked by heavy timber; thus they appear to be smooth. Beyond Lake Success the route, marked by blazes, goes northwest, skirts the head of a branch of O'Neil Creek (where the hiker should avoid following a game trail down), then climbs over a saddle (4.5 mi/7.2 km; 4800 ft/1463 m) on the east shoulder of Mount Olson, just below the peak. Here one has an excellent view of the peaks flanking the headwaters of the East Fork Quinault, including Mount Anderson, Chimney Peak, and Mount Duckabush. The peaks rise above intervening forested ridges. The trail descends a rockslide to a snowfield, then traverses a large meadow northeast of Mount Olson. The peak's north ridge, with a stand of fire-killed trees, is to the left. The trail angles to the left and descends the north ridge through heavy timber, where it becomes virtually impossible to follow. In fact, the cross-country hiker will make better time now by ignoring the trail and going due north by compass, picking out the best route while traveling. The slope is brushy, and it is steep in places. Near the bottomlands the ridge pinches out between O'Neil Creek and the next stream west. At this point one is likely to strike the old trail again on a bench. The path goes through a forest where huge red cedars are scattered among the hemlocks. The trees are tall and straight, and were they more numerous one would be reminded of the redwoods. This stand is impressive enough to warrant the clearing and reopening of the trail by the National Park Service. At the foot of the slope the trail comes out to the East Fork Quinault near the place where O'Neil Creek flows into the river opposite O'Neil Creek Camp (8.5 mi/ 13.7km; 1150 ft/351 m). At this point it is necessary to wade the river, unless one can find a log spanning the stream. Normally it can be forded safely after mid-July, and then it is only knee deep. The Enchanted Valley Trail can be reached on the north side .of the river, just beyond O'Neil Creek Camp.