Women’s Enchanted Valley Backpacking
Guided Backpacking Trips
4 Days, 3 Nights 26MI / 42KM
Trip Highlights
On this world class womens backpacking trip we hike to a remote valley surrounded by mile high cliffs, waterfalls, and glaciers in the wilderness of Olympic National Park. Known to locals as “The Valley of 10,000 Waterfalls,” Enchanted Valley is home to a historic Swiss-style chalet that dates back to the 1930s, as well as the wild Quinault River, Chimney Peak, Quinault Rainforest and Anderson Glacier. This four or five day hike to Enchanted Valley is the Olympics at their best – crossing creeks and rivers, navigating through mossy forests, and breaking into stunning, wide open meadows. And despite penetrating deep into the heart of the Olympics, the elevation change on this trip is moderate – the only heart-pounding on this trail will be from the views.
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Women Only Adventure
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Dramatic River Valley
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Alpine Day HIke
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Waterfalls & Glaciers
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1930s Ghost Town Chalet
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Fantastic Cuisine
Book This Trip
View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
4 Days, 3 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
6-10 mi -
Group Size
1-10 Guests
Receive a PDF info packet via email which includes:
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
This trip follows established and maintained trails with possible deadfall and other obstacles. It requires multiple creek crossings on uneven, slick and/or unstable terrain, including narrow and possibly wet bridges. There are significant hiking distances and elevation gains/losses, although the biggest day (Day 3) is a day hike with light backpacks.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle to the trailhead: 2.5 hours
Hiking Mileage: 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1800 feet
Elevation Loss: 1170 feet
This multi-day Olympic National Park hiking trip begins with pick up at your hotel in Olympia. After a 2.5-hour scenic drive, our first day is spent hiking along the majestic Quinault River, climbing steadily past small waterfalls and moss-laden trees. Deep in the heart of the Quinault Rainforest, we’ll keep our eyes out for unique flora and fauna as elk and other wildlife are common here, as well as an abundance of lush vegetation and giant trees. We’ll spend the first night camping next to the Quinault river, and finish off the day with a hearty dinner served up deep in the rainforest.
Day 2
Hiking Mileage: 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1300 feet
Elevation Loss: 600 feet
Day two follows the Quinault river further up into the mountains toward its headwaters, intermittently climbing and crossing small side creeks. We’ll hike through maple groves, past giant firs and spruces, and find many more small waterfalls along the way. Shortly before today’s ending destination, we’ll cross a dramatic bridge high above the Quinault River, and then the forest will open up into the stunning vistas of Enchanted Valley. We’ll camp here, in an open meadow with views of mountains, glaciers, and rivers. Black bear are common in this area, and if we’re lucky we’ll see one foraging near by. Salmon, bald eagles, elk, deer, otters, beavers, and more inhabit this bountiful area as well.
Day 3
Hiking Mileage: 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 600 feet
Elevation Loss: 1300 feet
We’ll wake up in the valley, enjoy a delicious backcountry breakfast, and take in the final views of the stunning Enchanted Valley and the historic riverside chalet, which has been relocated several times due to erosion from the ever-changing river. Then, we’ll make our way back along the Quinault River, where we’ll set up camp once again in the dense forest near the rivers edge.
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1170 feet
Elevation Loss: 1800 feet
Shuttle to Olympia: 2.5 hours
Our final day will take us back to the trailhead the way we came. We’ll drive past scenic Lake Quinault on the way out, and then bid farewell to the rainforest and to Olympic National Park as we head back towards Olympia, already dreaming of our next adventure.
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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What's Included
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Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
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High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
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Use of trekking poles
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Olympia and back
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All entrance fees, permits and passes
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
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Mandatory 3% national park fee that passes through directly to Olympic NP
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
FRESH & DELICIOUS
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
IN THE ACTION
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
Your guide will conduct a virtual orientation meeting (via conference call) at 5:00 PM the evening before your trip begins to review the packing list, communicate the first day’s logistics and answer any last minute questions you have. Your guide will give you the phone number for this call during the pre-trip contact approximately 10 days before your trip start date.
Early on the morning of Day 1 your guide will pick you up from your accommodations in Olympia, WA.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Olympia
The most common way to reach Olympia is by flying into Seattle and renting a vehicle or shuttling to Olympia (approximately 1 hour). SeaTac (Seattle-Tacoma) Airport is one of the most easily accessed destinations in the country. Many major cities in the United States and internationally offer direct flights into Seattle.
The shuttle to Olympia is provided by Premier Airport Shuttle. Go to https://premierairportshuttle.com/olympia/ or call 800-962-3579 to make reservations.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
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