Smith Lake–North Fork Skokomish River, 6 sights is a 15.7-mile out-and-back near Hoodsport, WA. The route passes North Fork Skokomish River and Pond of Profanity before reaching Smith Lake at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It climbs 5,464 ft, with sections as steep as 53% grade. It scores 95/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi774 – 4,639 ft · steepest grade: 53%15.9 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Staircase Hydro Nature Trail 47.51565, -123.33266
Nearest town Hoodsport, WA
Directions
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Smith Lake–North Fork Skokomish River, 6 sights
15.7 mi · ▲ 5,464 ft · 7 hr 58 min
Elevation 775–4,640 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Staircase Hydro Nature Trail · 47.51565, -123.33266
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 66°F / low 50° · precip 16% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 7:50 PM
Toilets at the trailhead
- Start on Staircase Hydro Nature Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass North Fork Skokomish River.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Staircase Rapids Nature Trail, heading NW.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto North Fork Skokomish River Trail, heading NW.
- 2.4 miPass Pond of Profanity.
- 1.8 miSharp right onto Black and White Lakes Primitive Trail, heading S.
- 1.9 miBear right onto Smith Lake Primitive Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miReach Smith Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Black and White Lakes Primitive Trail, heading W.
- 1.9 miSharp left onto North Fork Skokomish River Trail, heading N.
- 4.2 miTurn right onto Staircase Rapids Nature Trail, heading SE.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Staircase Hydro Nature Trail, heading SE.
- 100 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Weather
OvercastTemperature 66°F50°
Precip16%Wind5 mphUV6Humidity67%
Rained 0.7″ yesterday · trails may be muddy
Hourly temperatureRain chance
70°50°
Sunrise 6:37 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:50 PM
Sat
66°53°
35%
Sun
72°52°
33%
Mon
71°52°
Tue
75°53°
Wed
84°60°
Thu
70°58°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.3 mi in (~307 min). Leave by 2:23 PM for the 7:50 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Staircase Hydro Nature Trail Trailhead
- North Fork Skokomish River–2451, 4 sights 13.1 mi · ▲ 2,541 ft
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