Olympic National Park · Washington

PEABODY CREEK TRAIL

2.6 mi of trail, end to end · Take a Short Hike Near the Visitor Center: 5.2 mi out and back in the Service's write-up · about 850 ft of climbing · 275 ft–1,111 ft · hiking

279 ft 772 ft · 1.6 mi high 772 ft

Take a Short Hike Near the Visitor Center 5.2 mi out and back · the Park Service's write-up

15-30 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Start from the Visitor Center

A trailhead with a sign that reads "Peabody Creek Trail."
The Peabody Creek Trail begins at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center parking lot. Photo: NPS Photo

Near the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, two short loop hikes take visitors through peaceful, green lowland forests. Both trails are open year-round, and provide a great introduction to the forests of Olympic following a visit to the Visitor Center. Picnic benches located near the trailheads and amenities at the Visitor Center make this a great spot to stop for a post-hike lunch.

Peabody Creek Trail to Aldwell Nature Trail

This moderate-difficulty half-mile loop begins at the western edge of the Visitor Center parking lot. The trail descends through the forest to Peabody Creek. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the unique experience of walking under moss-covered trees that lean over the trail. Keep right (north) to join the Aldwell Nature Trail and return to the Visitor Center parking lot, or continue on the Peabody Creek Trail for a 5.2 mile out-and-back journey.

Living Forest Trail

This easy 0.4 mile loop starts beside the historic Beaumont cabin, behind the Visitor Center. Keep a lookout for banana slugs, interesting fungi, and the many birds of the forest!

Accessibility Peabody Creek Trail: This trail is not considered ADA accessible. Visitors should be aware that this trail involves sometimes-steep inclines and declines, steps, and wooden bridge crossings. There are some natural obstacles along the trail route, including tree roots. Living Forest Trail: This trail is considered accessible with assistance. The trail does not meet ADA standards, but may be accessible by visitors with sufficient upper body strength and balance, or a friend to help. Living Forest Trail has an elevation change of 82 feet.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 201 trails in Olympic National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.