Staircase Campground remains closed in the wake of the Bear Gulch Fire. Reservations are not being accepted at this time. Important information about booking windows: To better serve visitors, Staircase Campground will be releasing campsites in a series of three staggered block releases by loop. These block releases will be 6 months in advance, two weeks in advance, and 4 days in advance. Enormous trunks reach for the sky, lacy limbs stretch to the sun, grooved bark is sanctuary to tiny creatures in the vast cathedral of Douglas-firs that dominate the forests on this side of the Olympic Peninsula. Staircase is located in the southeastern corner of Olympic National Park, about a one-hour drive from Olympia, and two hours south of Port Angeles. Staircase Campground has 49 sites, with a number of the sites along the North Fork Skokomish River. The access road to the Staircase area is unpaved and periodically closes due to unfavorable weather conditions such as snow. This access road, NF-24 is often closed completely from Nov. - May. Make sure to check the status of the road before planning your trip.
Recreation: A variety of hiking trails navigate through the Staircase area along the Skokomish River and the nearby forests. There are several short day-hikes that explore the area. Shady Lane trail is flat, and less than a mile to Lake Cushman. The hike to Flapjack Lakes is for the stronger hikers, gaining over 3,000 feet in elevation. Longer hikes, like the North Fork Skokomish River trail, can be done in a couple of days.