Trip Report for Ranger Hole and Murhut Falls
Ranger Hole
Where: Olympic National Forest
When: Friday, August 1, 2014
Stats: 2.1 miles round trip – 200 foot elevation gain
We departed from my place at about half past nine and made it down to the ferry dock fairly quickly, though not in time to make the 9:40 sailing. We waited there for a bit, enjoying the morning sun, and then went aboard the 10:30 boat. The ride across was beautiful, as it usually is, with the sun shining down on us and a fresh breeze dancing across the water.
From Kingston we had a nice drive across the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas. As we got further away from the big roads I had Joel navigating based on the directions in the trail guide. I think he was nonplussed by this, but it didn’t take him long to realize that electronic direction finding mechanisms (iPhones) don’t always do so well with these little Forest Service roads. We made it to the trailhead easily and without getting lost.
Shortly after arriving another car pulled in beside us. Owing to the trail being short, easy, and easily accessible I assumed that these were some other hikers. It turned out, though, that it was a car load of old people who were there “to mushroom” (verb). Joel and I agreed that this definitely belongs on the list of things white people like, if it’s not already there, and more so it’s something old white people like.
The trail itself was very, very easy. It was only about a mile out to the river and the grades were all gentle and/or short. This was not a spectacular hike, but it was a nice ramble out into the woods with a bit of noisy river at the end. The river tumbles over rocks and then into the eponymous hole, finally flowing out into a slower and wider bit. Wandering around we got to enjoy warm temperatures, fresh air, and a little brown lizard out sun bathing.
We spent about half an hour there and then made our way swiftly back, just in time to catch the tail end of a successful mushroom(ing).
Murhut Falls
Where: Olympic National Forest
When: Friday, August 1, 2014
Stats: 1.6 miles round trip – 250 foot elevation gain
The next trailhead was just a little ways along the same road, though from this point onward it was a dirt road. I like dirt roads. I like dirt roads A LOT. I like fish tailing and skidding around corners on dirt roads. Joel found that out 🙂
This trailhead was very typical of mountain trailheads around here, i.e. a pull-off on the side of the road. There was one other car there when we got there, which was right in line with what the guide book said about this being an infrequently visited spot. This was a very easy trail, with the pay-off coming in less than a mile. The reward for this easy stroll was a really beautiful, two part waterfall, surrounded by dense trees. I have to agree with the book and say that I have a hard time understanding why more people don’t visit this spot. It wasn’t at all hard to drive to the hike was short and easy, and Murhut Falls is gorgeous!
We stayed for a little while, longer because Joel dropped one of my water bottle caps down the hill and had to climb down to get it. While he was busy experiencing a foreign and possibly unwelcome amount of exertion I hung around taking pictures of the falls. Eventually we started back down the trail, just in time to miss having to share the scene with a toddler and a dog.
An easy ramble lead us back to the car and a lovely drive got us back out of the National Forest. Joel pleaded “enough” and I agreed we could skip Fallsview Canyon. We decided to drive up to Port Townsend for some dinner and visited a place new to both of us named Sirens. The food was good, but the portions on the fries were really really stingy. That said Port Townsend is a really cute little town and I’d like to spend some more time there at some point.
After that it was back to Kingston where we just squeezed aboard the seven-something ferry for the return voyage.
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