The Enchanted Valley
Located in the heart of the Olympic National Park, the Enchanted Valley is a mile-long valley full of old growth forests, cascading waterfalls and plenty of wildlife. The 13+ mile trek in takes you along the Quinnault River, slowly ascending into the valley. Throughout the hike you’ll find flora and fauna galore, with black bears being extremely active closer to the valley.
The Enchanted Valley Chalet, originally built in the 30s as a wilderness retreat for the wealthy, now stands as a ranger station within the valley. While you can no longer go into the building (rangers use it for storage mostly), you can camp alongside it, as pictured above. Due to the every changing flow of the river, the chalet has actually been moved several times to avoid it falling into the water and the park service is considering moving it again to keep it away from the eroding cliffs.
Wildlife
The Valley: A Gallery
