Staircase Campground

The Staircase developed area will reopen on July 8, 2026. The surrounding wilderness areas will need to remain closed as repair and recovery efforts continue. 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 them along the North Fork Skokomish River. The access road, NF-24, is unpaved and periodically closes due to unfavorable weather conditions such as snow; it is often closed completely from November through May, so check the status of the road before planning your trip. A variety of hiking trails navigate through the Staircase area along the Skokomish River and the nearby forests, including several short day-hikes. 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.