Day 1 starts early at the Graves Creek trailhead. We hike through towering firs and cedar, with occasional sightings of a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, elk, bear, beaver, and river otter. After 6.7 miles of up and down trail, we stop early at O’Neil Creek Camp, right along the creek – a lovely place to soak your feet and play on the rocks after a hard hike.
Enchanted Valley
This trek in the Olympic National Park to the Enchanted Valley is a fascinating rain-forest hike through huge trees and peek-a-boo vistas to get to the Enchanted Valley. We’ll take two days to get up to the valley, and then spend a full day exploring the lovely river, massive cliffs, and majestic waterfalls. It is a strenuous trip for fit hikers who don’t mind some rain (it is a rainforest!) and want to experience this gorgeous area with the support of a string of fit, athletic llamas to carry all the gear, food & coffee.
Please note that this is a Leave No Trace trip; which means no fires, dried meals with fresh food additions, and attention to minimal impact throughout the trip.
Itinerary
On Day 2, we cross many streams, do a long but more gentle, continuous climb, and stop just before the high bridge to the Enchanted Valley, camping in a private stock camp.
Day 3 we leave our gear and the llamas at the stock camp and choose our own adventures – either hanging out along the creek in the Enchanted Valley exploring the old Chalet, hiking the length of the valley and finding the world’s largest known hemlock, or climbing up higher for more views.
| TRIP DATES | AVAILABILITY | PRICE | SPACE LEFT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 17, 2024 - June 21, 2024 | Guaranteed | $2,295 |
4 Available
|
|
| July 15, 2024 - July 19, 2024 | Guaranteed | $2,295 |
3 Available
|
What can I expect for meals?
Pescatarian, vegetarian, dairy-free, vegan, kosher, and gluten-free are easily accommodated on this trek. All dietary requests must be made at least 2 weeks before the trip.
- Dinners are dried and re-hydrated, with desserts served each evening.
- Lunches are a selection of wraps, nut butters, mixed nuts and dried fruit. Snacks include a selection of energy bars or similar items.
- Breakfasts include hot coffee, tea, and a selection of oatmeal, granola, and bagels.
What should I bring?
We carry 25 pounds of gear per person, including the provided tent and sleeping pad (4-6 lbs). If your gear exceeds 25 lbs, you’ll need to carry the excess. We recommend avoiding this so you can enjoy the treat of backcountry travel with just a light day pack containing snacks, raingear, and anything else you may need while hiking. Feel free to call us before the trip to help you pare down.
- Day pack
- Rain gear
- Sleeping bag (available to rent for $22)
- Warm clothes
- Hat
- Light shoes to wear in camp
- Trekking poles
- Flashlight
- Insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Medications
Where do we meet?
The group meets at the Graves Creek trailhead at 8 am. We get an early start so we can secure a group campsite at O’Neill Creek. This is a popular hiking area, and we provide the required permits for the group. Specific Hazards
- Narrow elevated bridges
- Rocky, steep trails
- Large elevation changes, up to 2000 ft per day