Rugged Ridge Trail

A 6 mile tound trip to the South Fork Calawah River. This is a fragment of the old Snider-Jackson Trail of Forest Service days. The trailhead (1000 ft/305 m) is located in the national forest on FS Road 2913, 2.2 mi/3.5 km beyond its intersection with FS Road 29. Rugged Ridge, the divide between the Sitkum River and the South Fork Calawah. forms the national park boundary in this area. Higher in the east, where its elevation exceeds 3000 ft/914 m, the ridge peters out near the confluence of the two streams. The trail begins in western hemlock forest and crosses Rugged Ridge almost at once, where it enters the national park (0.2 mi/0.3 km; 1200 ft/366 m). Here it goes through stands of slim Douglas-firs as it traverses a spur that extends from Rugged Ridge toward the South Fork Calawah. The trail crosses a half dozen little streams between the park boundary and the spur's crest, the forest changing until it becomes mostly silver fir and western hemlock. The growth of sword ferns and moss, is luxuriant; salmonberry and devils club form thickets by the streams. The trail is not steep, but it goes up and down to cross the creeks, with intervening level sections. At the fourth stream, waterfalls are present both above and below the trail. Upon rounding the end of the spur (1.6 mi/2.6 km; 1350 It//* 11 in), the trail attains its high point. Here it turns eastward and makes a steep descent to the South Fork Calawah, crossing three streams along the way. The third one is picturesque a stone wall on the far side is covered with various kinds of ferns. Above the trail arc Seven Step Falls, a multiple cascade, and another wall shingled with ferns. Trilliums bloom here in May. The South Fork Calawah River (3.0 mi/4.8 km; 745 ft/227 m) is not bridged, but one can cross easily in late summer or fall, either by wading or stepping from one boulder to another. During the winter or spring, when the water is high, the stream is dangerous, and one must find a log spanning the channel. The route beyond this crossing, known as the Indian Pass Trail, leads to the Bogachiel Trail.