THREE FORKS TRAIL

Length 4.5 ml/7.2 km
Access Doer Park Road
USGS Maps Maiden Peak; Tyler Peak
Agency Olympic National Park

This is the original "upside down trail," the best known of several 
such routes in the Olympics. The term came into use to describe a 
trip where one can drive to high elevation, then hike down the trail 
rather than beginning at the lower trailhead and climbing up from 
below. The difference in elevation between the beginning and ending 
trailheads on this route is 3300 ft/1006 m, attained in a distance 
of 4.5-mi/7.2 km.

The trail starts near Deer Park Campground (5400 ft/1646 m) and descends 
the mountainside via nineteen switchbacks, ending in a junction with 
the Cameron Creek Trail at Three Forks. The name Three Forks refers to 
the fact that three streams-Cameron Creek. Grand Creek, and the upper 
Graywolf River-come together near this camp to form the lower Graywolf.

When walking down this trail, hikers are likely to be fresh and full of 
energy and move along rapidly. However, the continuous descent is hard 
on the knees, although easy on the lungs. The reverse is true when hikers 
return to Deer Park, which they have to do unless they exit from Three 
Forks via one of three escape routes. However, these escape routes are all 
longer by many miles than the Deer Park to Three Forks hike, and two of 
them take the hikers over Grand Pass and Graywolf Pass, both of which are 
higher than Deer Park. The most practical solution is to rest at Three 
Forks several hours, then climb back up to Deer Park.

At first the trail descends steeply through meadowland and groves of sub 
alpine fir, where juniper bushes sprawl along the ground. The meadows are 
colorful during August with lupine, thistle, and bluebells. The views of 
the surrounding country are excellent. One looks directly up the valley 
of Grand Creek, and to the south The Needles are visible; also other peaks, 
including Mount Cameron and its glaciers. Elk Mountain and Maiden Peak 
rise to the west. The view to the cast looks out over the lower Graywolf Valley.

Near the trail's beginning a way path leads left to the summit of Blue 
Mountain (6007 ft/1831 m), crossing the Deer Park Road as it does so. The 
trail then goes through a grove of sub alpine firs to a junction (0.2 mi/0.3 km) 
with the Deer Ridge Trail. Beyond this point it switchbacks down the 
mountainside. Although the path is not overly steep, it is continuously 
downhill and thus hard on the knees. The Graywolf Valley is glimpsed now 
and then through the forest.

At the beginning the trees are mostly sub alpine fir. After a bit, the 
grade eases and the trail enter unbroken forest, now a mix of several 
species-Douglas fir, lodge pole pine, silver fir, and western white pine. 
The stands arc dark, shaded, and cool, with only thin undergrowth of salal 
and vanilla leaf. As the trail loses elevation, the views disappear, until 
only glimpses of the peaks arc had through the forest canopy.

After following a spine like ridge, the trail switchbacks down through 
stands of Douglas fir and western hemlock. Beyond the fourteenth switchback, 
the trail approaches a narrow ravine (2.8 mi/4.5 km). A sign, obviously 
intended for the hiker coming up from Three Forks, states that it is the 
last water. Here a little side path leads down to the stream.

The trail parallels the draw, and the murmur of the brook breaks the silence. 
Veering to the west, away from the ravine, the trail descends at a gentler 
grade, and then goes cast again. One can hear the Graywolf River faintly-or 
perhaps it is the sound of Grand Creek and Cameron Creek combined with that 
of the river. Once again the trail approaches the draw (3.3 mi/5.3 km), 
where a couple of paths lead down the steep bank, apparently made by hikers 
to obtain water. One can no longer hear the river, but a bit later it is 
audible again, then the sound is lost completely. Apparently, the configuration 
of the topography affects the sound waves as they travel through the forest.

Eventually the trees become primarily Douglas fir, and they are larger, their 
trunks and branches coated with lichen. Cool breezes sweep up the slope, and 
the whisper of the wind in the treetop> accents the creaking caused by tree 
trunks now and then rubbing against each other. At one point several yew trees 
add a note of botanical interest.

Turning a spur, the trail makes five short switchbacks as it approaches Three 
Forks, and the roar of Grand Creek rises from the valley. The trail then comes 
out onto a tiny meadow on the streams north bank, near its confluence with Cameron 
Creek. At this point the trail intersects the Cameron Creek Trail 
(4.5 mi/7.2 km; 2100 ft/640 m).

Three Forks Shelter stands at the north edge of the opening. Although in 
this deep forest setting the sun comes up late and goes down early, the place 
is popular with backpackers. Fishermen like to come here in October, after the 
frost has killed the insects and the fish are hungry. (The shelter is closed 
in November.) No sounds are present save those of nature-the rushing of Grand 
Creek, the wind in the trees.