Olympic Bridges Overnighter

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Mason County, WA, US

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Long Distance Studio

Bikepacking for the win.

62 km

901 m

The Olympic Bridges Overnighter connects two of Washington state’s highest arched bridges to make a memorable overnight trip or day ride in Olympic National Forest. The route includes three lakes for snack breaks and swimming among forested shorelines. The smooth and secluded gravel roads make it a great introductory bikepacking trip…

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Olympic National Forest is known for its rushing rivers, temperate rain forests, and alpine wildflowers. The Olympic Bridges Overnighter highlights the region's expansive beauty while connecting the area’s history with logging. This short overnighter includes Washington state’s two highest arched bridges, Vance Creek Bridge and High Steel Bridge, once logging railroads for the Simpson Logging Co. These historical bridges are not the only highlight; there are three lake stops at West Lake, Lake Cushman, and Spider Lake. Whether you want a scenic snack spot, a refreshing swim, or learn more about the region’s history - this overnighter has a lot to offer everyone.

The Olympic Bridges Overnighter is a bikepacking route designed to begin and end at Vance Creek Viaduct trailhead with overnight camping at or near Brown Creek Campground. The route starts at a trailhead where you can bike down half a mile to view the @poi[Vance Creek Bridge](67866811), which is a great way to shake out any loose bikepacking gear. After returning to the trailhead from the short shakedown, the route goes on a mellow, gravel forest road that quickly connects to @poi[West Lake](67866810), a small secluded marsh lake with dispersed camping on Forest Road 2340.

Once you leave West Lake, the route continues to @poi[High Steel Bridge](67866815) 375 feet above the Skokomish River. After taking in all the sights, the route continues with rolling gravel until you reach @poi[Lake Cushman](67866816). The reservoir lake is a perfect spot for swimming with its clear waters, lush forested shoreline, and views of the mountains.

Continuing from Lake Cushman is a climb to @poi[Brown Creek Campground](67866812), a first-come-first-served campground along the South Fork Skokomish River. Evergreen conifers and hardwoods provide lots of shade at this campground, and the large designated campsite makes it a great spot for bigger groups. There are plenty of river access spots for swimming and hanging out, making it a popular spot on hot days.

Once you leave Brown Creek Campground, there is a long climb to @poi[Spider Lake](67866814), where you can rest your legs in the crystal blue waters. After Spider Lake, the route continues with two more climbs until you reach a well-deserved rolling, fast descent back to @poi[Vance Creek Viaduct trailhead](67866817). 
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# Indigenous Acknowledgement

* **The route is on** Skokokmish/Twana, Coast Salish, Chehalis, and S’klallam land. 
* **The Twana** occupied virtually the entire Hood Canal basin. For thousands of years, the Twana/Skokomish people have had a cultural, spiritual, and economic dependence on the Skokomish River where they make their home. 
* **Skokomish** was the largest of nine Twana Indian communities that lived near one another and shared many customs. What is now known as the Skokomish tribe is mostly made up of Twana Indians and the descendants of the other tribes who share the Skokomish Reservation. The name Skokomish (pronounced sko-KO-mish) comes from two words meaning “big river people,” skookum and mish (a suffix found on many Northwest tribal names meaning “people”).
* **The majority of Coast Salish tribes** made settlements in villages on the mouths of rivers, in sheltered bays or in inlets out of the reach of storms. Throughout their existence the mainstay of the Coast Salish way of life has been fishing, which in addition to being a food resource has also been a central part of their ceremonies and legends.

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# Highlights

* **High Steel Bridge** is a truss arch bridge and the highest in Washington state. Built in 1929, the bridge spans the south fork of the Skokomish River and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
* **Vance Creek Bridge** is the third highest bridge in Washington state that spans Vance Creek. The bridge is accessible through a trail for non-motorized access, but going on the actual bridge itself is not permitted. 
* **Lake Cushman** is a 4,014.6-acre lake and reservoir with swimming, fishing, and boating. Crystal blue water and views of the Mt Skokomish Wildnerness make this a popular destination. 
* **Spider Lake** is a hidden lake with a two-mile hiking trail taking you through old-growth forests, small waterfalls, and a marsh. Would suggest leaving your bike along the road before hiking down since the trail can be steep and narrow in sections. 
* **Lake West** is a small secluded marsh lake with limited trail access. 
* **Rolling and secluded gravel roads**, just be careful of the gigantic slugs during the wet months.
* **Established campsites** at Brown Creek Campground and many dispersed camping options in Olympic National Forest.
* **Counterclockwise recommended** but the route can be ridden in either direction.

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# Must Know

* **Ideal bike:** Gravel bike with 34c tires at minimum. 
* **When to go:** Summer and fall are the best times to ride in the Olympic National Forest since it can be very wet in the spring and winter. 
* **Parking:** Available at Vance Creek trailhead and Lake West.
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# Camping
* **Brown Creek Campground** offers twenty first-come-first-served designated campsites located along the shore of the South Fork * * Skokomish River at the confluence with Brown Creek. Potable water is not available during the off-season. The campground can be full during the summer.
* **West Lake** has dispersed camping spots on Forest Road 2340.
* **Dispersed camping** is available anywhere in Olympic National Forest.
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# Food/H20

* **Potable water** is available at Brown Creek Campground during open season, typically from mid-May until late September. 
* **Lots of options to filter water** in the many creeks, rivers, and lakes on the route. Highly recommend carrying a water filter.
* **No food** resupply available.
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# Trail Notes
* **Optional single-track** on Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail, a six-mile trail starting near Brown Creek Campground. 
* **Check rain conditions**; Olympic National Forest can see significant rainfall with the Satsop Hills having the highest average annual rainfall and the second highest ever recorded in the continental United States.
* **Nature trail** at Brown Creek Campground loops around a beaver pond.
* **This route can be shortened** by taking Forest Road Highway 23 if you want less mileage.
* **This route can be combined** and extended with the [GCOR (Gravel Circumnavigation of the Olympic Range)](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33093613) route if you want more mileage. 
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# Route Difficulty
**I would rate this route a 4 out of 10 in terms of overall difficulty.** The main obstacle is climbing. The climbs can be daunting for less experienced riders. Don’t be discouraged if you’re new; just take your time and settle into the climb. There is no food resupply and potable water only at Brown Creek Campground during the open season. Highly recommend carrying a water filter for the many creeks, rivers, and lakes along the route. 
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# Links

* [Brown Creek Campground](https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/olympic/recarea/?recid=47795)
* [High Steel Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Steel_Bridge)
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# Route Development
* **Thanks to Skyler Elzy** for the illustration and pre-riding the first route. 
* **Thanks to the Friends on Bikes Seattle and Portland** crews for pre-riding the second route and testing all the swimming spots.

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Olympic Bridges Overnighter

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