PNW 100 | Three Days and Two Nights in Enchanted Valley

Hiking the Pacific Northwest 100 Trails - 10/100 Enchanted Valley, Olympic National Park Enchanted Valley is one of the classic beginner multi-day hiking and camping trails in Olympic National Park. Kraig Adams has captured some amazing shots here. I experienced it last weekend and have finally found the time to share some thoughts after a week of delay. 🌲 👟 Fitness Stats: The round trip from Graves Creek Trailhead to Enchanted Valley Chalet is 28 miles, with each way being 14 miles. We completed it over three days, camping for two nights at Fire Creek Campground (7 miles from the trailhead) and near the Enchanted Valley Chalet at the end of the trail. The entire route is almost flat with negligible elevation gain. We hiked for about 3 to 6 hours each day, and it felt very relaxed. Friends with good fitness can definitely complete it in just two days and one night. 🏞️ 📍 Location and Parking: It takes about three and a half hours to drive from downtown Seattle to the trailhead. The camping permit needs to be booked on recreation.gov. There are plenty of parking spots available, and since the number of visitors is controlled by permits, parking is almost never an issue. The road condition is decent, with about half an hour of unpaved road towards the end. Although a permit is required, it's not difficult to obtain because there are many campsites along the way. 🚗 Difficulty Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 It's long but very gentle, making it easy to control your pace. Anyone can do this trail if they're willing to take more time to enjoy the journey. 👣 Scenery Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5 The entire route is through the forested valley. The rainforest itself is quite unique, especially the lush greenery in early summer, which is particularly beautiful. Additionally, the chances of spotting black bears and elk here are very high. There are also lots of birds. 🦅 Things to Note: 1. Campsites at lower elevations are generally allowed to have campfires before June. The best time to visit this area is in May and June, so if you're thinking of getting into backpacking and camping, don't miss out. Campfires are truly one of the greatest joys of camping. 🔥 2. Don't be discouraged if the weather forecast calls for rain. Since most of the trail is through the forest, a little PNW drizzle is easily manageable without even needing a raincoat. ☔️ 3. This might be one of the most water-rich trails I've ever hiked. The entire route follows a stream, so there's no need to carry a large water bladder. Just bring a water filter. 💧 #PNW100 #SeattleLife #SeattleSurroundings #NationalParksUSA #MeasuringTheWorldOnFoot #BackpackingCamping #Camping