Enchanted Valley itinerary
Every published mile marker on the Enchanted Valley route, in order, with the distance and elevation change between each one — and which permit each stretch needs. To watch dates and set alerts, go to the Enchanted Valley permit page.
Which permit covers this route
The Enchanted Valley. One reservation is an ordered sequence of nights at named sites, issued by reservation.
- Stops mapped
- 5
- Across the markers
- 13.0 mi
- Published route length
- 13 mi
- Published ascent
- 1,700 ft
How long it takes: 3-4 days. That is the figure the permit publishes — this page does not divide the route into days, because no source records which stop you sleep at.
The stops below are the route's published mile markers, in order, with the elevations recorded against each one.
Distance and elevation change on each leg are the difference between the two published figures either side of it, so the legs are arithmetic on the markers and nothing more.
Adding up only the climbs between markers gives 1,406 ft, which is a floor rather than the total: anything that rises and falls between two markers is invisible to it.
The Enchanted Valley route, stop by stop
Mile 0.0
624 ft
Graves Creek Trailhead
End of the road up the East Fork Quinault. Reachable only via North Shore Road while the South Shore Road washout is in place; RVs and trailers are prohibited.
2.5 miles · 280 ft up to Pony Bridge
Mile 2.5
904 ft
Pony Bridge
The river narrows into a gorge under the bridge. First camp, and the standard day-hike turnaround.
4.5 miles · 290 ft up to O'Neil Creek
Mile 7.0
1,194 ft
O'Neil Creek
Camp about 7 miles in, the usual first night for a three-day trip.
3.0 miles · 294 ft up to Pyrites Creek
Mile 10.0
1,488 ft
Pyrites Creek
The last camp before the valley.
3.0 miles · 542 ft up to Enchanted Valley
Mile 13.0
2,030 ft
Enchanted Valley
The meadow and the chalet. 13 miles by the park's trail page, 14 by Recreation.gov. The washout is about a third of a mile before you get here.
Getting a Enchanted Valley for the dates you want
Planning the route is the easy half. Enchanted Valley dates go fast, and the ones that come back are cancellations — they return to the booking system without warning and are gone again quickly. PermitSnag watches Enchanted Valley around the clock and alerts you the moment a date opens.