INDIAN PASS TRAIL

Length 3.4 mi/5.5 km 
Access Bogachiel Trail 
USGS Map Indian Pass 
Agency Olympic National Park

The route over Indian Pass goes north from the Bogachiel River to the South Fork Calawah, where it becomes the 
Rugged Ridge Trail. Before creation of Olympic National Park, both paths were part of the old Snider-Jackson Trail, 
which extended from the Soleduck to the Hoh.

Beginning at an intersection with the Bogachiel Trail near Bogachiel Camp (450 ft/ 137 m), the trail crosses the 
river bottom through stands of large spruce, and then climbs to a level bench covered with hemlock forest so dense 
the gloom is perpetual. The trees are not large, but they are tall and close together.

As the trail approaches Indian Pass, the hemlock is replaced by silver fir, interspersed here and there with a 
big spruce or Douglas fir. The pass (1.8 mi/ 2.9 km; 104 ft/317 m) marks the divide between the Bogachiel and 
Calawah watersheds. The forest at this point is almost exclusively silver fir.

According to geologist Rowland W. Tabor, the South Fork Calawah may once have drained to the Bogachiel via 
Indian Pass, but was later diverted by the glacier to the Calawah. The elevation of the pass is about the same 
as the gravel terraces along the Bogachiel.

Beyond the pass the trail descends at a moderate grade to the South Fork Calawah (3.4 mi/5.5 km; 745 ft/227 m). 
The stream is not bridged, but in late summer one can, with care, boulder-hop from one side to the other without 
getting wet. The Rugged Ridge Trail can be found on the north bank.