DEER RIDGE TRAIL Length 5.0 mi/8.1 km Access Slab Camp Route: Deer Park Road USGS Maps Madden Peak: Tyler Peak Agencies Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park This route ascends Deer Ridge, the eastern spur of Blue Mountain, and ends at Deer Park. The trail starts in the national forest on FS Road 2875 just beyond Slab Camp (2540 ft/774 m). Motorbikes are not permitted. At first the path parallels the road, but soon climbs above it, and one can see snow, peaks ahead. Left is the valley of Slab Camp Creek, leading to the Graywolf River. The virgin forest was destroyed by fire, and burned stumps are scattered through the stands of stunted Douglas-fir that have grown up since. The trail has a moderate grade for about a mile, and then steepens as it climbs Deer Ridge. The trees are also larger and taller. Although steadily uphill, the route is cool and shaded, the rock outcrops covered with mosses and lichens. The trail then rounds a spur and traverses to View Rock (1.5 mi/2.4 km: 3200 ft/975 m), which overlooks the Graywolf and the snow-covered peaks beyond. Directly below, a clear-cut mars the vista down to and across the river. At this point one can hear, faintly, the distant murmur of the stream. Extensive clear cuts are visible in the northeastern foothills of the Olympics; beyond them, the Cascades rise above the clouds that often blanket Puget Sound. As it makes a long traverse, the trail climbs almost imperceptibly. A seep pool and little stream (1.7 mi/2.7 km; 3300 ft/1006 m) provide the first water. The tiny spring is perpetual; one can obtain a cool drink here at any time. Leaving the second-growth forest behind, the trail enters a stand of virgin Douglas-fir, but the trees are not large, and the trunks and limbs are covered with lichen. After passing a second spring (2.0 mi/3.2 km: 3600 ft/1097 m), the trail steepens considerably, and the trees are much larger. Here an abrupt transition occurs- the forest changes from timber type trees to bushy ones. This is a high-altitude stand-the trees are scattered, and the ground cover is sparse. The trail crosses a spur and comes out onto a narrow, spine like ridge covered with contorted firs and pines. The ridge provides a splendid view into the Olympics- a vista of the upper Graywolf and Cameron Creek watersheds, with mountains at the head of each. (The spectacular views, however, still lie ahead-in the high meadows within the national park.) The path leaves the ridge and traverses the mountainside. The views become more frequent-one has vistas from almost every rock outcrop and opening in the forest. After rounding several spurs and crossing a grassy swale, the trail enters Olympic National Park (3.6 mi/5.8 km; 4750 ft/1448 m). Within the park the trail goes below basalt rocks covered with stonecrop. The conifers are large for this altitude, and consist of subalpine fir, lodge-pole pine, and Douglas-fir. This is the upper limit of the latter's range. As the country becomes park like, the bushy firs and pines contrast with the slender subalpine firs. The latter predominate on the cool and shaded north side of the ridge: the firs and pines on the warm and sunny south side. Leaving the dense stands, the trail crosses meadows that are dotted with pines and firs, and then circles the head of a gully. The views ahead are striking, and include the upper Graywolf, The Needles, Baldy, and neighboring summits. Although one is not apt to look back, the hiker who does so can see Glacier Peak topping the Cascades. After weaving through basalt up thrusts, where juniper sprawls among the rocks, the trail enters a dense stand of lodge pole pine, then traverses scree slopes as it circles to cross two gullies. Both are dry in late summer and fall, but water is available here early in the season. The almost barren mountainsides support a thin growth of juniper. The trail crosses a big meadow, a colorful flower garden in early summer, where the views are unobstructed, then intersects the Three Forks Trail (5.0 mi/8.1 km; 5360 ft/1634 m) beside a stand of subalpine fir. One can reach the Deer Park Road from this point by going right 0.2 mi/0.3 km on the Three Forks Trail.