Satsop Lakes Via Church Creek In Olympic National Forest

Church Creek Trail is named after Frederic Church, a member of an 1890 expedition across the Olympics. This trail offers a lightly traveled route through old-growth forests with majestic trees. While the terrain can be challenging with rough sections and steep climbs, the reward is reaching the serene Satsop Lakes basin abundant with wildlife. Saved from obscurity by the Olympia Mountaineers, who adopted and restored the trail, it offers a memorable hiking experience.

Start at unimposing trailhead, enter primeval forest.

• Trail winds through lush forest, crosses creeks.

• Reach 3,150-foot divide with giant hemlock.

• Descend past pretty cascade, encounter giant trees.

• Arrive at largest of five Satsop Lakes.

• Look for trout, newts, forest critters.

• Explore other hidden lakes if desired.

• Trail ends at Forest Road 2372.