Four Itchy Feet

July 10, 2025. Brinnon, Washington. Day 50 of 170

Today, we hiked the Ranger Hole Trail #24 in Olympic National Forest. This short, 1.8-mile roundtrip trail leads to a fantastic swimming hole and is well worth the effort. The Forest Service often doesn’t receive the recognition it deserves for its diverse ecosystems and well-maintained trails. Like many others within the Olympic National Forest, this trail is in great shape and offers excellent access to the Duckabush recreation areas.

When you arrive, the first thing you’ll see is the Interrorem Cabin. Constructed in May 1907, the cabin served as the Olympic National Forest’s first administrative site. At the time, this included the area that is now Olympic National Park. Emery J. Finch, a ranger and Hoodsport pioneer, built the cabin for his new bride, Mabel, and they moved in on April 22, 1908. From 1933 to 1942, the station hosted several government programs, including the Emergency Relief Administration (ERA), Works Progress Administration (WPA), and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). From 1942 to 1986, the cabin was a fireguard station, and from 1986 to 1994, it was used by Forest Service volunteers. Today, you can reserve and stay at this historic cabin through Recreation.gov. While it lacks electricity and plumbing, it offers otherwise well-appointed accommodations.

To the right of the cabin, you can access two trails. The short one to the left is a nature trail with interpretive signs and historic photos detailing the lives of Emery and Mabel Finch. Mr. Finch, an avid fisherman, was responsible for building the Ranger Hole Trail, a path to his favorite fishing spot on the Duckabush River. You can catch a few trout here and enjoy wonderful views of the river. The vivid turquoise-blue water of the river is unique to the area and incredibly inviting. We had a wonderful time, and this trail is a must-see when visiting the Olympic Peninsula.