Featuring verdant old growth forests, glacial-fed streams, some of the best views of the Olympic Mountains, and even a historic chalet, there are plenty of reasons why the hike to the Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park is one of the most popular backpacking trips on the Olympic Peninsula. The 26 mile trail to the Enchanted Valley brings you deep into the Olympic National Park backcountry, providing access to areas of the park few visitors get to experience. In this article, we’ve outlined all the information you need to plan your next adventure to the Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park!
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enchanted valley in olympic national park
Nestled deep in the wilderness of the southwestern corner of Olympic National Park, the Enchanted Valley is one of the best hiking trails on the entire Olympic Peninsula.
The trail follows along the rushing Quinault River, through old growth forests of towering Sitka spruce trees and across rickety bridges. Home to all types of wildlife, Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park also offers a great opportunity to see black bears, elk, deer, and many other forms of plant and animal life.
The Enchanted Valley sits at just over 2,000 feet above sea level and is surrounded by the magnificent, snow-capped peaks of the Olympic Mountains in all directions.
Enchanted Valley Chalet
At the entrance to the Enchanted Valley, you’ll find the famous Enchanted Valley Chalet, which was built in the 1930’s to help encourage visitors to the area. All building materials were hauled up the 13 mile trail by horses, allowing for the construction of the chalet in its remote location.
Perhaps unsurprisingly in hindsight, the Chalet became too expensive to operate as a restaurant and hotel for weary hikers and it was converted to a lookout base during WW2 for Japanese airplanes. While the Chalet still stands today, it is boarded up and closed to visitors. Even so, it is a welcome sight to see after 13 miles of hiking!
enchanted valley backpacking overview
- Distance | 25.5 miles
- Elevation | 3,254 feet
- Difficulty | Moderate
- Permits required | Yes
- Fires allowed | Yes
- Dogs allowed | No
Find this hike on AllTrails | Enchanted Valley Chalet via Easy Fork Quinault River Trail
Note on difficulty | We’re rating the Enchanted Valley hike as moderately difficult if broken up over the course of two or three days. Even over two days, the hike is long but the elevation gain is gradual, making it moderately difficult as far as backpacking trips go.
Other PNW Resources
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Highlights
- Diverse landscape including lush rainforest, old growth forests, glacial-fed streams, and towering, snow-capped mountain peaks
- Gradual elevation make this an ideal backpacking trip
- Plenty of great campsites and unlimited backcountry permits mean you don’t need to worry about competing for a limited number of campsites/permits
- Great base to explore more remote trails deeper in the Olympic National Park backcountry
Lowlights
- Long trail to reach the Enchanted Valley before any big mountain views
- Unlimited permits means there will be crowds and you’ll need to search around for a private campsite
- While views in Enchanted Valley are beautiful, the best views are deeper into the backcountry
Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park | Know before you go
Enchanted Valley packing list
Below is a list of gear we’d recommend packing for backpacking to Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park.
Bug Spray | The mosquitos around the river can be pretty brutal.
Warm Layers | Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody
Even during the summer, it gets quite cold at night here. Pack a warm sleeping bag and extra layers for when the sun goes down. My Arc’teryx jacket is incredibly warm, lightweight and packs down small!
Water shoes | Chacos
Great for wearing around camp or for wading into the river.
Bathing suit | Is there anything better than laying in the sun on a warm summer day beside the river after hiking 12 miles? The water is cold, but dipping your feet in feels great after long day of hiking!
Compact towel | PackTowl lightweight towel
This compact lightweight towel packs down small, making it great for carrying on backpacking trips and perfect for drying off after taking a dip in the river!
Bear Spray | Counter Assault
Since there are black bears in the area, carrying bear spray with you is a good idea.
Bear Can | BearVault
Bear canisters are required in Enchanted Valley by Olympic National Park. We can typically share the small can for short trips (1 – 2 nights) and the larger can or two small cans for longer trips.
Our Backpacking Essentials
Good gear can make all the difference on a backpacking trip. Below we’ve compiled a list of our tried and true backpacking gear essentials – we use these items every time we backpack and couldn’t live without them.
Backpack | 40L Osprey Tempest / 65L Osprey Ariel / 55L REI Co-Op Flash
For one-night backpacking trips, I (Sarah) love my 40L Osprey Tempest! It fits the essentials but is super lightweight. For longer trips and/or carrying more weight, the 65L Osprey is more spacious, really comfortable, and provides more hip support. Matt’s go-to pack for most trips is the lightweight 55L REI Flash.
Backpacking Tent | Mountain Hardwear Aspect 3
A reliable tent makes all the difference in the backcountry, and the Mountain Hardwear Aspect 3 has not let us down. Though it’s not cheap, it’s lightweight (less than 4 pounds), durable, easy to set up and feels spacious enough to fit 2 people comfortably.
Campstove | Jetboil Flash
Picture this: you wake up in the dark in the backcountry, aiming to catch the sunrise somewhere nearby but its so cold you don’t want to get out of bed… then you remember you’ve got a Jetboil and piping hot coffee can be ready within minutes! Morning made.
Coffee | Sea to Summit Collapsible Coffee Filter
If you’re a coffee snob (like me…) who needs *real* coffee in the morning, even in the backcountry, the compact Sea to Summit collapsible filter makes it easy. Pair with the Jetboil Flash and Sea to Summit cups and you’ll have your cup of joe in no time!
Sleeping Bag | REI Co-op Women’s Magma 30 / REI Co-op Men’s Magma 30
At this price point, you can’t beat the REI Co-op Magma 30 (Women’s and Men’s). We both use this sleeping bag, and it’s lightweight enough for backpacking without sacrificing on warmth and durability.
Sleeping Bag Liner | Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite Sleeping Bag Liner
I’m a very cold sleeper so I often bring this Sea to Summit sleeping bag liner,even for summer nights. It’s super cozy, lightweight, adds 8 degrees of warmth and helps keep your sleeping bag cleaner.
Trekking Poles | Black Diamond Distance Z Trekking Poles / Distance NFZ Trekking Poles
I had always thought trekking poles were silly until one very steep, exposed, slippery hike in Death Valley left me feeling quite insecure even with solid tread on my boots. Immediately after I bought my Black Diamonds and haven’t hiked without them since.
Sleeping pad | Women’s Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite Sleeping Pad / Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite Sleeping Pad
I often sleep better on my Therm-a-rest sleeping pad than I do in a hotel bed… this thing is so comfy and weighs only 12 ounces! Only downside I have found is it is a bit noisy if you tend to move in your sleep a lot.
Inflatable Pillow | Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow
This Sea to Summit inflatable pillow is super lightweight and packs down tiny (I’ve actually lost it a few times because it packs down so small), so it’s great for camping and backpacking trips. The best part, it’s shockingly comfortable! I am a light sleeper (in a normal bed), so this is huge for me!
Dehydrated Meals | Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai with Chicken
Backpacker’s Pantry has a huge variety of dehydrated meals that we’ve found to be surprisingly tasty. The Pad Thai and Chana Masala are our all time favorites!
GPS | Garmin InReach Mini
The one piece of gear you hope you never need to use, but is worth its weight in peace of mind. We always carry our Garmin In-reach Mini in case of emergency in areas without cell service and it gives us (and our parents) peace of mind. It can also be used to simply let a loved one know you’ve arrived at your destination.
Headlamp | Black Diamond Storm 400
Navigating around a campsite is nearly impossible after dark without a headlamp. We both use Black Diamond Storm 400’s, and we’ve found them to be reliable and long-lasting despite the compact size.
Water Filter | Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter
There is plenty of water along the trail so we highly recommend packing a water filter to save some water weight. The Katadyn BeFree is small and couldn’t be easier to use.
How difficult is Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park?
As noted above, we’re operating under the assumption that most of the people reading this article are planning to backpack and spend at least one night in the Enchanted Valley (two nights is even better, more on this below!).
With that in mind, we’re rating this as a moderately difficult backpacking trip. Covering about 13 miles, the hike into the Enchanted Valley is not a short hike by any means. However, with an elevation gain of just over 3,000 feet, the trail is actually quite gradual, easing the difficulty level quite a bit.
The trail follows along the East Fork of the Quinault River, ambling through the ups and downs of the forest along the river bank, with no super steep inclines or declines. With the long distance but gradual elevation gain, the hike to the Enchanted Valley is certainly a challenge but nothing too difficult.
It took us about 6 hours total to hike from the trailhead to the Enchanted Valley, stopping twice for snacks and lunch. Admittedly, we were hiking pretty fast as we wanted to snag a good campsite so 6 hours is probably a bit quicker than usual.
We’d recommend planning for a 7 hour hike both in and out of the Enchanted Valley.
When to backpack Enchanted Valley
One of the great things about the Enchanted Valley hike is that it has a longer peak season than most of the other hikes in Olympic National Park. The best time to hike to the Enchanted Valley is anytime from late May to late September.
Because Enchanted Valley sits at just over 2,000 feet above sea level, it tends to clear out of snow earlier in the season and is generally warmer than other higher-elevation hikes in the area. You should be able to reach the Enchanted Valley without encountering too much snow by late May. However, always be sure to check for current conditions before starting your journey.
Earlier in the season (May to early July) is a great time to hike to the Enchanted Valley, as snow will still be melting at higher elevations, meaning the waterfalls in the area will be full and the Quinault River will be gushing. However, if you plan to hike deeper and higher into the backcountry, you will likely experience some lingering snowfields.
Later in the season, you can expect drier conditions and fewer waterfalls, but there will be less chance of snow impacting your plans.
Overall, from May through September, you can expect warm-to-hot daytime temps (typically in the 70’s F) and cool nights (usually in the 50’s F). Of course, always check the weather before you begin your hike.
Remember you’re in the PNW: weather can change rapidly and rain showers are possible at any point in time. Always be prepared for rain!
Enchanted Valley trailhead
The trailhead for the Enchanted Valley hike is located in the southwest corner of Olympic National Park, about 45 minutes past Quinault Lake. More precisely, the trailhead is located here, or right next to the Graves Creek Campground.
The last 10 to 15 miles leading up to the trailhead are on a dirt road, which is generally well maintained, apart from the many potholes. You should be able to make it to the trailhead with any car. You’ll just need to be extra careful to avoid some of the potholes if you have a low clearance vehicle.
We have not tried to reach the trailhead while it is raining, which could cause the road to become muddy, so always use your best judgment.
Parking at the trailhead
As Enchanted Valley is one of the more popular backpacking trips in Olympic National Park, the parking at the trailhead is a bit tight. The parking lot is really just the end of the road with only maybe 20-30 clearly designated parking spots.
However, there are plenty of small pull-outs along the side of the road for the last half a mile or so where you can park. As such, you should not have a problem finding a place to park near the trailhead. However, some of these parking spots could be quite a bit down the road, adding a not-insignificant difference to the distance you’ll be hiking.
Like all popular hikes, we highly recommend you get to the trailhead and begin your hike as early in the day as possible.
Where to stay before Enchanted Valley
With a long day of hiking ahead of you and competition for the best campsites, you’ll want to spend the night before your Enchanted Valley hike as close to the trailhead as possible. For better or worse, the trailhead is remote and there are not many lodging options nearby.
However, there are a few good options for lodging the night before the hike to Enchanted Valley, which we’ll describe below.
Graves Creek Campground
Graves Creek Campground is located right at the trailhead to Enchanted Valley and is the most convenient place to stay the night before you begin your hike.
Graves Creek Campground is fairly rugged, with only pit toilets and no running water available. RVs and trailers are not allowed due to the road conditions leading up to the campground/trailhead. Tent sites cost $20 per night.
However, the Graves Creek Campground has only 30 sites and they are all first-come, first-served. We’ve read that the campground fills up fairly early on busy weekends. Being so far from any other lodging options, we didn’t want to risk driving all the way to Graves Creek Campground and not find a spot, so we decided to camp at a Big Spruce RV Park and Cabin Rentals in Humptulips.
That being said, if you can get there early, Grave Creek Campground is the best option to stay the night before your hike to Enchanted Valley.
Big Spruce RV Park and Cabin Rentals
Located about just over 1 hour southwest of the trailhead for the hike to the Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park, Big Spruce RV Park and Cabin Rentals is a solid option the night before your hike.
Nothing fancy, but clean restrooms, reasonable prices, and plenty of space make Big Spruce RV Park and Cabin Rentals the perfect quick stop on the night before your hike to the Enchanted Valley.
Lake Quinault Lodge
Built in 1926 with a rustic cabin-esque vibe and located right on the beautiful Quinault Lake, the Lake Quinault Lodge is your best option if you’d like to sleep in a cozy bed and enjoy the luxuries of a highly-rated hotel the night before your trek to the Enchanted Valley.
Rooms start at $410 per night and the lodge is about 50 minutes from the trailhead.
Day hike vs. Backpacking the Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park?
We highly recommend planning to backpack into the Enchanted Valley so you can fully enjoy everything this amazing area has to offer.
The hike to reach the Enchanted Valley is 13 miles each way. While the elevation gain is gradual, we do not recommend trying to day hike the full 26 miles in one day!
Even more so, some of the best views on the trail are in the Enchanted Valley, making it an amazing place to spend the night and you’ll definitely regret trying to rush through if you don’t backpack.
And finally, if you still need convincing, there are some amazing trails that lead deeper into the backcountry with majestic, sweeping views of the southern Olympic Mountains, that you can only access if you backpack and spend at least two nights in the Enchanted Valley.
Not only will you feel rushed if you choose to day hike to the Enchanted Valley, but you’ll also miss out on the best parts of the entire experience – sleeping under the stars in the Enchanted Valley and exploring the trails even deeper into the backcountry!
Enchanted Valley olympic national park Backpacking permits
If you want to spend the night sleeping under the stars, deep in the Olympic National Park backcountry, you’ll need to get a backpacking permit from the National Park Service.
For better or worse, there is not a limit to the number of permits issued by the National Park Service for Enchanted Valley. This means that you do not need to stress about getting a permit as soon as they become available, as you won’t be competing for a limited number of reservations.
However, this also means that the camping area can be pretty crowded, especially during popular weekends (we camped during the Fourth of July and there must have been a hundred tents in Enchanted Valley!).
You can reserve your permits at Recreation.gov. Select the “Quinault” starting area, then enter your group size and dates.
There is a $6 reservation fee and each person included on the permit is $8 per person per night. You do not need to pick up your permits in person but there likely will be a ranger checking permits in Enchanted Valley. Make sure you have your permits printed out or saved to your phone.
Camping areas along the trail
There are four camping areas along the trail to the Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park: Pony Bridge, O’Neil Creek, Pyrites Creek, and the Enchanted Valley itself. Below are some details on each of the camping areas:
- Pony Bridge
- Distance from trailhead | 2.5 miles
- Number of campsites | 3
- Privy | No
- O’Neil Creek
- Distance from trailhead | 6.9 miles
- Number of campsites | 6
- Privy | Yes
- Pyrites Creek
- Distance from trailhead | 10 miles
- Number of campsites | 12
- Privy | No
- Enchanted Valley
- Distance from trailhead | 13 miles
- Number of campsites | Technically unlimited
- Privy | Yes (2X)
If you can’t make it all way into the Enchanted Valley or all the way out in one day, these additional campgrounds offer plenty of other camping options along the trail.
You will need to get a permit for each campsite, as outlined in the “Backpacking Permits” section above.
Where to Camp in Enchanted Valley
While there are three other camping areas along the trail, camping in the Enchanted Valley is easily the most popular, and rightfully so! Situated just past the historic chalet, nestled along the banks of the gushing Quinault River and covered by towering spruce and birch trees, you’ll find plenty of available campsites: the perfect spot to lay your head for the night.
As you continue along the trail into the Enchanted Valley, you’ll see tons of already established campsites, many with existing fire rings. As always, it’s best to use what’s already there and you should do your best to camp only in established campsites.
Most of the campsites are beyond the chalet, although there are a few before you reach the chalet. There is a little spur trail that goes along the river bank and leads through many campsites giving you prime access to the cold, flowing waters of the Quinault River.
The Best Enchanted Valley Itinerary
With all that logistical info out of the way, let’s talk about the best itinerary for the Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park.
We strongly recommend a three day, two night backpacking trip, with both nights spent camping in the Enchanted Valley. This will allow you to have a full day to hike deeper into the backcountry and explore everything this amazing area has to offer. We’ve broken down our day-by-day itinerary below.
Day 1 | Hike to Enchanted Valley
Arrive at the trailhead and start hiking as early as possible. You have a long hike and plenty of competition for the best camp spots, so you’ll want to get moving as early as you can. The trail up to Enchanted Valley is long but the elevation gain is gradual so you should be able to move fairly quickly, despite your heavy pack.
The trail passes through old growth forest with towering sitka spruces and lush ferns covering the ground. You’ll cross over countless glacier-fed streams, gushing with crystal clear water.
You’ll spot a handful of picturesque waterfalls and, if you’re lucky, you might even be able to catch a glance of a bear, elk, deer, or other type of common wildlife.
Soon enough, you’ll see the Enchanted Valley Chalet and the views will start to open up – this is when you’ll know you made it to the Enchanted Valley! Once you’ve made it to the Enchanted Valley, you can begin looking for a campsite for the night.
Enjoy some well-deserved rest after a long day of hiking!
Day 2 | Day hike from enchanted valley
Day 2 of your Enchanted Valley itinerary is devoted to exploring the trails deeper in the backcountry of Olympic National Park. Thankfully, you’ll be able to leave most of your heavy gear at your campsite, as you’ll be returning to the same spot later in the day.
On Day 2, you basically have two options for hiking deeper into the Olympic National Park Backcountry, both are magnificent and you really can’t go wrong with either choice.
The first option is to hike towards O’Neil Pass for sweeping views of the Enchanted Valley from up above. Alternatively, you can head towards Mount Anderson and the Anderson glacier, for an up-close experience with one of the most beautiful mountains in the southern Olympic Range.
For both O’Neil Pass and Anderson Glacier, you will begin your hike by heading northeast, continuing along the Quinault River and the Enchanted Valley trail. You’ll stay on this same trail for about 3.2 miles and 1,200 feet of elevation gain, depending on where you set up camp in the Enchanted Valley.
At this point, you’ll reach a junction in the trail. Turning right, or to the south, will bring you towards O’Neil Pass, while continuing straight or to the northeast, you’ll head towards the Anderson Glacier.
Trail towards O’Neil Pass
We chose to head towards O’Neil Pass, as a friend said that the views along the trail of the Enchanted Valley were magnificent, and they were totally right. After the trail junction, you’ll continue through the forest for about a mile, until you’ll reach the most picturesque meadow we’ve ever seen. Here, the views completely open up on both sides, featuring mountain views in all directions. ,
A babbling stream, fed by melting snow, cuts through the grass and wildflower filled pasture, the perfect spot to take a break and relax for a while! The meadow is about 4.5 miles from the Enchanted Valley, making it a good turn-around point for the day (9 miles total).
ever-improvingHowever, we chose to continue hiking for another mile or so and were rewarded with ever-improving views of the Enchanted Valley and surrounding mountains as we climbed up the ridge.
There isn’t really a set destination on the trail towards O’Neil Pass (the pass itself is 10 miles from Enchanted Valley, so you’d need to hike 20 miles if you want to make it to the pass), so you can turn around and head back to camp whenever you’re ready. We recommend at least making it to the meadow, but suggest continuing on a bit farther for better views if you have the energy.
Anderson Glacier
Your other option on Day 2 is to head towards Anderson Glacier and Mount Anderson, which towers above the far end of the Enchanted Valley. We did not hike out this direction, so don’t have any personal experience, but we talked to the Park Ranger in Enchanted Valley and this was his recommended day hike from the Enchanted Valley.
From the trail junction above the Enchanted Valley, you’ll continue on to the northeast for about 2 miles. However, you’ll climb about 1,900 feet in elevation over these 2ish miles, meaning that it is very, very steep!
From what we can tell, the trail ends at the base of Mt. Anderson, with straight-on views of the Anderson Glacier. If you reach the end of the trail in this direction, you’re looking at about 10 to 11 miles and 3,000 feet of elevation gain for the day.
Day 3 | Hike out
Day 3 is dedicated to hiking out of the Enchanted Valley and back to the trailhead at Grave’s Creek. You’ll return the same way you reached the Enchanted Valley, this time with the benefit of going downhill.
Other Enchanted Valley Itinerary Options
If you can’t spend two nights/three days in the Enchanted Valley of need to split up your hiking differently than our recommended itinerary, here are a few other itinerary options you could consider:
One night itinerary
If you only have one night, you could definitely hike into the Enchanted Valley on Day 1, spend the night, and then hike out on Day 2.
If you start early and have the energy, you could drop your gear when you reach the Enchanted Valley and continue up towards O’Neil Pass or Anderson Glacier, but this would be a very long day.
Two night itinerary
If you are arriving late to the trailhead and don’t think you can make it all the way to the Enchanted Valley on Day 1, you could plan to camp at one of the early campgrounds: Pony Bridge, O’Neil Creek, or Pyrites Creek on Night 1.
Then hike to Enchanted Valley early on Day 2, drop your gear, and continue towards O’Neil Pass or Anderson Glacier.
Other Enchanted Valley Info
Before heading out on your hike to the Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park, make sure you’re prepared with all of the important information below.
Fires
Typically, you are allowed to have fires at your campsite in the Enchanted Valley. If you do choose to have a fire, please make sure you use an existing fire ring and do leave the fire unattended at any point in time. Make sure you douse the fire entirely before you go to sleep and no hot embers remain.
As always, check the Olympic National Park Website, to see if there are any further restrictions on fires in the Enchanted Valley.
are dogs allowed?
Like most National Parks in the US, dogs are not allowed on the trail to the Enchanted Valley.
where can I find Water?
The Quinault River runs right through the middle of the Enchanted Valley and along the trail leading up to the Enchanted Valley, providing a reliable water source. There are also plenty of smaller streams fed by melting snow that flow into the river where you can fill up on water. These streams may dry up later in the season.
As with any water source in the backcountry, you will need to filter your water before using it.
will it be crowed?
As we mentioned above, there is no limit to the number of backpacking permits for the Enchanted Valley and its one of the most popular backpacking trips on the Olympic Peninsula. If you’re looking for a truly remote and isolated backcountry experience, this is not the trip for you.
While you can find private campsites in the Enchanted Valley, it does get very busy during summer weekends and if you arrive later in the day, you may have a more difficult time finding a good campsite, away from other people.
are there Black bears in the area?
The Enchanted Valley and Olympic National Park are home to a sizable black bear population. Bear cans are required while backpacking in the Enchanted Valley. While we were there, the Park Rangers were being extra careful about food and waste storage, as there had been a few black bear sightings in the area.
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