Staircase Rapids Loop

The Staircase Rapids Loop is an easy 2 mile/ 3.2 km trail. It winds through old growth forest to a bridge over the North Fork Skokomish River with only a 200-foot elevation gain. A spur trail leads to a huge fallen cedar. This trailhead also accesses the Four Stream and Shady Lane Trails, described below. Full Accessibility Description Four Stream Trail Length: 1,645 feet, .31 miles Surface Type: Compacted gravel Typical Trail Width: 6-8 feet Typical Running Slope: Under 5%, except the last 200 feet which has some brief steep sections up to 16% Typical Cross Slope: Less than 2%, trail is crowned (higher in the middle than on the edges) Elevation Gain/Loss: Less than 25 feet Accessible Parking: Van-accessible parking along parking area. Description: The accessible portion of the Four Stream Trail runs along the southern bank of the Skokomish River, and ends at a river overlook at 1,645 feet. The trail narrows and continues beyond that point. The Staircase parking area by the ranger station has one accessible parking spot at the west end of the parking lot. Cross the bridge over the Skokomish River. The trailhead sign will be visible from the west end of the bridge. From the trailhead sign, the 8-foot-wide compacted gravel trail dips down and back up in the first 140 feet, in which 2 sections under 20 feet reach 8% grade. From here, the trail continues at grades under 5%. At 690 feet, there is an intersection with the Big Cedar Trail. Continuing forward to the right, passing a pullout with a view of the river at 910 feet. At this point, the trail narrows to 6 feet. At 930 feet there is a 50-foot stretch at 6 to 8% grade. The trail continues at under 5% grade with another pullout at 1,150 feet before rising to another river overlook. From 1,360 to 1,390 feet the grade varies from 8-10%, increasing to a max of 16% for 25 feet. Beyond this is a gentler section with grades of 7-15% from 1,450 to 1,490 feet. After twenty feet under 6%, there is a final steep section from 7-11% from 1,510 feet to 1,525 feet. The grade is under 5% for the final approach to the overlook which is at 1,645 feet. Shady Lane Length: 4,410 feet, .84 miles (trailhead at end of bridge to Four Stream Road trailhead) Surface Type: Compacted gravel Typical Trail Width: 2 feet Typical Running Slope: First quarter of trail is rugged with numerous very steep sections 20-40% grade. From 1,050 to 3,940 feet mainly under 6% grade with occasional steep section 12-17%. Final 500 feet starts with an 85-foot section at 30-35% grade and is then mostly under 6% grade with a few 10-foot sections at 15% grade Typical Cross Slope: Less than 2%, trail is crowned (higher in the middle than on the edges) Accessible Parking: Van-accessible parking along parking area Description: From the Staircase parking area, across the bridge over the Skokomish River, the trailhead is identified by a sign on the left-hand side at the far end of the bridge. The next 310 feet of the trail is compacted gravel 3 feet w