Black and White Lakes Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Lake · Views · Wildlife

Note - This trail is also known as the Smith Lake Trail.

From the Flapjack Lake Trail to Black and White and Smith Lakes, this path weaves through a pretty little forest before arriving in a meadow that was once the location of a somewhat successful mine which the area was named. Offering stunning views of the Skokomish River Valley, this trail also gets hikers away from the more crowded areas and into a destination where solitude and quiet reflection are possible. Easy to follow and decently maintained, the trail is perfect for a summer and fall day. While only a mile in length, this is a great trail to see Six Ridge and the southern Olympic Mountains.

Black and White Lakes, for those curious, was named as such thanks to alcohol, a knife and a tree. The name comes from a brand of whiskey drank by early elk hunters in the region and was beloved so much by one man, that he wandered off to the lake and carved the name of the whiskey into one of the high alpine trees. The name was so popular that it also became the name of a mine on Mount Gladys which was operational from 1907 until 1940. Today, Black and White Lakes and Smith Lakes are mostly unseen. They are a place of silent reflection, meditation, and serenity.

In the late spring months, this trail erupts with beargrass and occasional wildflowers. The forest is not old growth, but impressive enough to take in, especially with sun shining through the firs. Keep an eye out for deer, black beat and even a rare mountain goat sighting.