The Spruce Railroad Trail, which meanders alongside Lake Crescent in Clallam County, is one of my top five favorite hikes in Washington State.
Most of this trail is wide, flat and easy to navigate with senior pups. Park at the West Trailhead and wander through the trees with regular views of the Lake on your left.
About a mile in, you’ll come to a tunnel with a spur trail to the left. If you continue straight through the tunnel, you’ll enjoy a wide, flat trail but it’s much less scenic than the spur trail. The spur trail is moderately steep, narrow in places and a bit uneven with rocks and roots. However, this trail provides some of the most spectacular views and takes you to the Devil’s Punchbowl with a scenic bridge. If you’re able to take the trail, I highly recommend it.
This photo of Shiloh and Chops is one of my favorites of all times. Sisterly love!
Continue your trek across the Devil’s Punchbowl along this sturdy bridge. Shiloh was always scared of bridges but never had issues with this one because the gaps between boards are minimal and the bridge is wide.
After you’re finished soaking up the scenery and getting lots of photos, continue on the trail and you’ll end up on the other side of the tunnel. You can go left to continue your hike (the flat road continues and the scenery remains similar as shown in the above photo), or if you’re ready to return, you can take a right and go through the tunnel to get back to your vehicle. The tunnel can be a bit dark, so if you or your pup have eyesight limitations, you might want to use the flashlight on your phone.
The entire trail, from the West Trailhead to the East Trailhead is 5 miles each way. The loop I recommend – West Trailhead to spur trail and back through the tunnel – is just under 3 miles total. As you can imagine, this trail can get quite busy, especially on weekends, holidays and unusually sunny days. Additionally, the path is a favorite of cyclists, so if your pup is scared or reactive to bicycles, this trail might be a challenge for you. The wide, even paths and beautiful scenery make this one of my favorite hikes!
Treat yourself to a milkshake at Granny’s Café on the drive home. Learn more about the trail and read trip reports on the WTA site.
Read about other hikes for senior dogs in Western Washington!
Hiking with Senior Dogs in Western Washington
