Trail:Dungeness-Gold Creek Loop

From Evergreen Trail Guide

Trail Overview

How about a ride that has a little of everything? There’s smooth and wide, rocky and exposed, up and down(repeat), logging road climb, fast descents, remote location, rushing river, old growth, and some definite hike-a-bike(you can avoid most of this with a start variation). It begins with a roly poly up and down eventual descent to the Dungeness River. Once near the river you have some incredible old growth rain forest riding to a concrete bridge (the nominal half-way point). A logging road climb of over 1,000 vertical feet brings you to the Gold Creek Trail. This trail hugs the side of Dirty Face Peak – fast and smooth in places and very exposed in other spots, you’ll wish you had your seatbelt fastened. After some exhilarating downhills don’t think the climbing has stopped because this trail still has some steep short lungbusters ahead. Eventually you will start switchbacking down down down to the river and the road and the 1 mile(uphill) back to the car.

How to find it

There was a major washout in 2000 which makes most of the directions in the riding guidebooks obsolete.

Follow 101 until near Sequim Bay State Park and turn onto Louella Road(a left if coming from Puget Sound). This road T’s. Turn left onto Palo Alto Road. When the road forks, bear left on FS Road #28. .From Road #28 stay right at the Y and at the next intersection turn right on Road #2880. Go past Dungeness Forks Campground then turn left on Road #2870 and follow it for a couple more miles to Spur Road #230 - turn left here and follow the road downhill a mile to the trailhead parking area. The road ends here with the trail entrance on your right. Decent sized parking area loop.

Typical Conditions

Here you describe how the trails hold up with rain, late in the summer, etc.

Current Conditions

06-04-2010 Rode the hike-a-bike option. Trail started off looking nice and tacky but quickly turned in to a muddy mess. Certain parts of the trail hold up very well, but you go thru many different conditions in 19 miles. Nice compressed trail in some areas, muddy in others and very clay like conditions in others. Only a couple downed trees on the whole trail. Looks like someone recently cut a few big ones off the trail. All rive crossings were passible.

03-21-2010 Both in good condition except as noted below. The final turn from 2870 to the trail head is now signed with a spur number 230. Previously marked 2860. There is a newish footbridge with handrail crossing Gold Creek just before the end.

02-16-10 Lower Dungeness has taken a bit of a hit from the shelter to the bridge. River has gouged out a new route and toppled several trees in the process. Also some blow down but just in a couple of places. Overall Gold Creek is in good shape apart from the switchback area that has become pretty gnarly with deep ruts and exposed rocks.

10-1-09 Overall trail is in great shape. A few small downed trees here and there, but otherwise in perfect shape.

7-5-08 Dungeness has been cleared. Gold had two small trees on it but no issue. Tread was firm on both.

Trail cleared and in good shape. Jackd49 20:32, 4 August 2007 (PDT)

Does anyone know the current condition of the trail? Is it rideable this early in spring? cshtauralrets 2008-04-01

Contacted http://www.mikes-bikes.net and he reports that the trail is still snow covered and lots of blow down. Another month before it is clear. --Hawkens 20:39, 22 April 2008 (PDT)

Eight of us rode this 6-8-08 on a misty, cold day. Lots of blowdowns on Dungeness going up, but passable. Gold Creek (down) is clear (2 tiny blowdowns) and all snowfree with good trail quality. It's time to ride it. -Cary

Turn-By-Turn Guide

From the parking lot find the trail and begin! The first 3 miles have lots of steep ups and downs. You will be walking parts of this. There is a GREAT viewpoint near the end of this 3 mile grunt. (Many people avoid this hike-a-bike part by riding up the road from the parking lot and turning left at the T. Follow the main road to the 3 O’clock Ridge Trail on the left. As you are descending the road, this trail is very easy to miss. There is a photo of this trail turnoff in the images. From the parking lot it is 4.3 miles. Take this trail down ½ mile to intersect the Dungeness River Trail.) In a couple of miles you will come to a shelter and be right next to the river. Follow the trail 2 more miles and come to the bridge and the large parking lot and pit toilet and popular Royal Basin trailhead.

Cross the bridge, veer left and begin the road climb. This road ascends then descends to a bridge where the real climbing begins. After about 4 miles of road you will come to a trailhead/parking lot, soon after a sharp switchback in the road. You will see the start of the Gold Creek Trail on the left. Basically, follow this trail all the way down to the valley floor, 7 miles away. Nice downhills mixed with short, humbling climbs. Save some gas for this section! You will come to one fork, stay left on the main trail. When you reach the valley floor cross over the concrete bridge to the left (formerly road 2860 from East Crossing Campground) and begin a 1 mile moderate climb back to the gate and parking lot.

Here is an external link with more detailed directions

Local Points of Interest

Here you might list nearby places to get a bite to eat, nearby bike shops, etc.

Misc. Information

Those looking to extend their time on the Olympic Peninsula into a full weekend ought to consider doing this ride on Saturday, then heading northwest to the Lake Crescent area to ride the Mount Muller trails the following day. Both rides are well worth the trip and there are numerous camping opportunities near both trails.

Advocacy Information

This is for information about the trail's history with respect to mountain biking, the land owner, etc.

Photos