Leif Nesheim

Although I was certain Mandy and I had hiked at Elk Lake before, the trail didn't seem familiar. It was kind of like trail déjÀ vu, only in reverse. Instead of vaguely remembering something that might not have happened before, I couldn't quite remember something that had.

Turns out we had hiked the trail before, only instead of hiking the south shore of the lake as we did this time, three summers ago we hiked the north shore. Similar but different.

After spending the night at the pleasantly retro Bayshore Motel in Brinnon - where while walking the dog I saw the sun rise in a molten band of orange between the black band of the Cascades and Mount Rainier on the horizon and a dark ceiling of clouds - we drove south toward the trail.

The main trailhead is well-signed and easy to find. Several other entrances are supposed to be easy-to-find alternatives, but I didn't feel like risking it. Plus, I wanted to hike a loop and the main alternative from Forest Service Road 2421 is a there-and-back hike.

There's a small parking area by the sign marking the main trailhead. It confused me. Later, checking my notes from the last hike, I realized it confused me then, too. This time, we drove to the bottom of the spur where a slightly larger parking area is located. Last time, we walked - it's not far.

The trail heads through tall conifers and ferns a short distance, then it splits left and right. This time we went left, along the lake's south shore. Last time, we went right: Hence the non-déjÀ vu déjÀ vu.

The trail crosses a few marshy areas and has several peek-a-boo views of the lake. The best view is at a rocky lakeshore campsite. In a vee formed by ridges on the far side, a snow-peaked mountain peeked through the mist. It was reflected in the still water of the lake. The reflection was sharper than the actual mountain thanks to the mist and still water.

The trail passes through old-growth forest to Cedar Creek. An ankle-deep crossing was enough to spook Dodge, our 6-month-old border collie mix, but eventually he ran across with me. The forest floor here is blanketed with thick moss and is quite picturesque. A pretty campsite is located a short distance beyond the creek crossing.

Very soon, the trail pops out on Forest Service Road 2401. Across the road is an unmarked trailhead to Upper Elk Lake. We didn't go there.

To make a true loop of the lake, head along the road to the right a half mile. Keep your eyes peeled for the unmarked trailhead on the right. A bridge on the forest service road crosses Jefferson Creek, where a waterfall courses between a narrow gorge into a frothy turquoise pool. The trailhead's not much farther.

The return trail parallels Jefferson Creek a short distance through a mostly fir forest, while the creek rushes by with effervescent joy below.

There are several paths leading to the lake shore for fishing and views of the lake, its far willow-covered shore and the ridge that rises between Jefferson and Washington creeks. Looking through the trees on the right, there are intermittent views of the massive logjam in a marshy area that forms the border of the lake.

Pretty soon there is a junction to the left with a less-trodden path: the route to the eastern trailhead on Forest Service Road 2421. When we explored this route in 2007, downed trees blocked it. We didn't bother this time.

The guidebook I had omitted any mention of the southern lakeshore trail. I should have printed out the Forest Service's one-page trail description page (or reviewed my old notes) before heading out because the loop around the entire lake is a great hike, one Mandy and I now have made on two separate occasions.



Leif Nesheim is hiking columnist and a former reporter for the Sequim Gazette. He is editor at the Montesano Vidette. He can be reached at editor

@thevidette.com.