Lower Gray Wolf Trail

How long: 8.4 miles (round trip); access past 3.5 miles blocked by slide

How hard: East to Moderate

Pass required: None

How to get there: From downtown Sequim, take U.S. Highway 101 east, then right on Palo Alto Road for four miles to Forest Service Road 2880. In about two miles, take right onto FS Road 2870. Trailhead is about 2 miles on left.

On the web: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/olympic/recarea/?recid=47835; www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/gray-wolf-river

Having a list of “go-to” hikes is fun, particularly when you want to treat out-of-town guests to a bit of local dirt-kicking adventure.

This weekend it was my oldest step-daughter’s 60-pound pitbull, Gaia, and one of my favorite go-to hikes: Lower Gray Wolf Trail.

Located just four forest service road miles from the end of Palo Alto Road, this trail is rarely crowded even in busy summer months. Perhaps folks prefer some elevation when hitting the Olympic’s foothills, or maybe they prefer a bit more adventurous trail. For me, the Gray Wolf is a perfect mild day hike that’s doable for most hikers.

Plus, since it’s in Olympic National Forest land, it’s dog-friendly.

My wife Patsene and I already had packed in a full day of activities before heading out with Gaia and Louis, our 13-pound dachshund, to the trailhead. Fine candidates for an animal version of “The Odd Couple,” these two have somehow found peace — and, as luck has it, a healthy pecking order when it comes to walks and hikes. Meaning, the dog with the muscles and long teeth goes first.

After a several-month absence, hiking the Gray Wolf was like seeing an old friend. All the familiar shrubs and mosses, the undulations of the trail, the trickling creeks and streams we and our four-pawed friends found ways to negotiate … it was all deeply satisfying.

Oh, and those mosquitoes. Yeah. Forgot about them.

We may have picked the worst time of day — nearing sunset — to make our way to the Gray Wolf River, as a thousand bloodsuckers of indiscriminate tastes converged on our foursome. Even armed with repellent, I worked on picking up the pace with the dogs, who picked a fine time to sniff every blooming wood violet and bleeding heart and fawn lily.

The occasional clearings that open up views of the Buckhorn Wilderness were a bit spoiled because of the recent spread of wildfire smoke — thanks a bunch, Canada — so we settled for the greenery of the trail. The Gray Wolf had a few steep parts but it’s not too troubling. Broken rock and roots are abundant so it’s not great for trail running, although I tried that here a few years ago and didn’t have any issues.

The path, only about 12 to 18 inches wide in many spots, grows soft and earthy about a mile in where one can take a small detour with the Cat’s Creek Loop. This is a small detour but one can get lost surprisingly quickly (been there, done that). For our shortened hike purposes, we skipped the loop.

The trail slowly descends toward the Gray Wolf River — its rushing audible at about one mile — and at the 1.5-mile marker is a spur off to the left to a small camping area and access to the river itself. It’s a good turnaround point for day hikers who aren’t interested in the full 4.2-mile hike.

Reports have the trail washed out at about 3.5 miles. Normally, I like to finish a hike regardless of how I and my hiking party are feeling — it’s pretty obsessive-compulsive of me, I admit — but already feeling gross from the mosquitoes and sweat and with the sun going down, I figured the campground would be our halfway point. Patsene and the dogs agreed … I think.

Another similar option to this hike is the nearby Slab Camp Trail and Deer Ridge Trail, both going deep into the Buckhorn Wilderness and leading up to the Olympic National Park boundary to the west.

Note: You can access the Gray Wolf Trailhead from the north by taking Taylor Cutoff Road to Lost Mountain Road, then FS 2870. I prefer the Palo Alto Road as it’s slightly less bouncing around on forest roads — plus the views on Palo Alto are easy on the eyes.

Note 2: Remember to pack the 10 essentials of hiking (navigation/mpa, sun protection, insulation/extra clothes, headlamp/flashlight, first aid supplies, firestarters, repair kit/tools, extra food, extra water and emergency shelter), and take along extra water and food/treats for your four-legged hiking buddies.

See more photos from the hike here.