About this place

This site provides western access to the Olympic Discovery Trail that parallels the winding course of the Sol Duc River. It is a dog-friendly trail that is also open to touring bikes, mountain bikes, stock, wheelchairs, and hikers. The trail follows the original Spruce Division Railroad Grade east for about six miles. This six miles section of trail also passes through 100 year old temperate forest stands of western hemlock and giant sword ferns.Historic area: In 1916, due to World War I, the Spruce railroad was initiated to harvest the giant spruce in the Sol Duc Valley. The properties of the wood from these giants made it suitable for airplanes, created for the war. At the turn of the century, much of the surrounding lands were early homesteads.Along this trail segment, near Camp Creek, is the start of the great 1951 Forks Fire. The fire burned over 30,000 acres from this railroad grade into Forks in less than eight hours.Amenities iclude: An accessible vault toilet, picnic tables, two stock trailer parking pads, a hitching post and a short stock trail on the north end of the trailhead to access the Olympic Discovery Trail.