Trip Report
Seattle Explorers Backpack - Enchanted Valley
An intrepid group of 11-12 year old kids backpacked to O'Neil Creek camp (8 miles one way), day hiked to the Enchanted Valley Chalet (14 miles round trip) and then back to the trailhead on day 3. It was during the record breaking 100F weather, but the glacier-fed Quinault River kept us cool and fed refreshing river breezes.
Thomas Robey
- Sat, Jun 26, 2021 — Mon, Jun 28, 2021
- Seattle Explorers Backpack - Enchanted Valley
- Enchanted Valley
- Youth
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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The road to the trailhead is a decent gravel road. There was plenty of parking along the road. The trail is well maintained, and an Americorps crew was putting in new steps. There are stream crossings and bridges, some with just one rail, but kids and adults
forded each easily.
The explorers Mountain Goat Pod ventured to this truly enchanted valley on the hottest weekend in the documented history of Puget Sound. Much of the trail was 10-15F cooler than the rest of the region, so the 100F+ afternoons were tolerable. The swimming hole stream siding out of the main Quinault current at O'Neil Creek camp was a refreshing treat. There were no complaints on the 14 mile daytrip from O'Neil to the chalet, and the kids set the moderate to fast pace the whole time. There are plenty of nice campsites all along the route, which could make this a nice string of shorter hikes. 