Enchanted Valley
Olympia, WA
5.0 (36 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Dramatic River Valley
- Unique Rainforests
- Waterfalls & Glaciers
- Wildlife Habitat
- Towering, Mile-High Cliffs
- 1930s Ghost Town Chalet
- Fantastic Cuisine
Description
On this world class 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.
$1830 Per Person
$2170 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
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 on the 5-day itinerary) is a day hike with light backpacks.
Hiking Distances:
6-10 mi
Backpack Weight:
35-45 lbs
Terrain:
Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
2650 ft
Heights Exposure:
Moderate
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 35-45 lb backpack for 5-7 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain, including river and creek crossings on narrow, wet bridges and slick, uneven terrain
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Olympic National Park hike a solitude 3. You can expect to have hours of solitude at a time.
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 1.75
- 4 People: Rate x 1.25
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
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Itinerary
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 (5-Day Itinerary Only)
- Hiking Mileage: up to 10 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: up to 3500 feet
If you choose the 5 day option, day 3 can be an opportunity to relax and soak up the views of Enchanted Valley, or to get some day hiking in and make the heart-pounding ascent to Anderson Pass. This option is best added after July 1 for day hiking to the pass, as snow persists in the higher elevations through late June. We’ll carry light daypacks, and start off with a mellow stroll through meadows, and old-growth forests and wind our way past the largest Western Hemlock in the world, before beginning the climb up towards Anderson Pass at 4,464 feet. Berries, views, and wildlife abound.
Important: this trip is operated as either a 4-day or 5-day itinerary, and is confirmed as such in advance. Variation of trip length does not mean guests can choose to leave a trip or early or extend it a day.
Second to Last Day
- 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.
Final Day
- 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.
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.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
- High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use) – or bring your own.
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- 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.
- Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Olympia and back
- All entrance fees, permits and passes
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
- Mandatory 3% national park fee that passes through directly to Olympic NP
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware synthetic-fill sleeping bags (or bring your own)
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
Guest Packing List
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.
Additionally, some guests choose to bring their own sleeping bag. We supply high quality, synthetic fill bags that are professionally laundered after every trip. Synthetic fill is non-allergenic, insulates when damp and stands up well to repeated washings, but is heavier and bulkier than down. If you’re able to bring your own down sleeping bag, there are multiple benefits. If not, we’ve got you covered!
Trip Logistics
How Do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
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.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
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
Weather in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park covers a dramatic diversity of terrain from seashores to rainforests to alpine peaks and glaciers. The weather will be largely dependent on which trip you sign up for and which ecosystem you will be hiking in. Read below for average high and low temperatures in different parts of Olympic National Park:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||||
|
Month
|
Coast
|
Mountains
|
||||||
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
|||
|
June
|
66°
|
47°
|
3.8 in
|
53°
|
36°
|
3.9 in
|
||
|
July
|
70°
|
50°
|
2.8 in
|
62°
|
42°
|
2.1 in
|
||
|
August
|
72°
|
50°
|
2.8 in
|
63°
|
43°
|
2.2 in
|
||
|
September
|
69°
|
47°
|
4.4 in
|
57°
|
39°
|
4.7 in
|
||
|
October
|
42°
|
59°
|
11 in
|
47°
|
32°
|
8.5 in
|
||
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 Reviews
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- HIGH - LOW
Allison S
Would book another trip with Wildland in a heartbeat!
This trip was seriously the highlight of my year! I was nervous to go as a solo traveler, but the group I hiked with Washington was welcoming and fun. Our guides Rach and Nick really went above and beyond to meet everyone at their levels, make sure we were comfortable and enjoying the experience, and learning along the way. Despite being the least experienced camper of the group, after day one I was capable of taking care of all of my equipment on my own thanks to them. I would book another trip with Wildland in a heartbeat!
Lynne D
A great backpacking trip
The Enchanted Valley was a great backpacking trip. Our guide Landon was phenomenal and provided some delicious backcountry meals.
Sandy A
You won't regret it!
We had an amazing time backpacking Olympic National Park in the Enchanted Valley with Wildland Trekking! The big, tall trees and amazing vista views of the mountains in the valley were breathtaking! I highly suggest going up to Anderson Pass on the 3rd day rather than hanging out at base camp. That was my favorite day. If one person in the group doesn't want to go the rest of the group has to stay behind. I feel what a shame it would be to go into the valley and not do the day hike. You won't regret it! Another thing, the food was so good! There wasn't one meal I didn't like. I still talk about it; I never expected such good meals during this trip. Our guide, Darrek was amazing! He was knowledgeable, fun, and a great cook! We had a great time with Darrek and I would definitely request him again.
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