Appleton Pass spans a broad saddle between the South Fork Boulder Creek and Sol Duc River drainages. A string of lofty subalpine meadows extend from the pass with miles of open space to explore.

Purchase Prints from this Trail and / or High Resolution Downloads Here.

The headwall of Sol Duc Valley and High Divide frame meadows west of Appleton Pass

The trail continues above the pass and Oyster Lake into rolling subalpine meadows

The meadows extend about a mile and rise up to 5,580' from the pass

Mount Appleton frames a field of bistort that absorbs a campsite on Appleton Pass

Garlic, onions and asparagus are in the same family as the Avalanche Lily

The trail crosses Rocky Creek, a primary tributary to the upper Sol Duc River

Lupine shrouds the trail from Appleton Pass into the upper meadows

The northeast edge of the meadows offer a look down Shoeffel Creek valley

Red elderberry may cause nausea if consumed uncooked

Subalpine species can rival the height, but rarely the girth, of old growth fir and hemlock

Looking across the steep upper slopes of Boulder Creek valley

Grouse are difficult to see; when startled, they're arguably the loudest animal in the forest

Bear are common in these meadows, and along blueberry-lined slopes leading to the pass

A clear path leads through the meadow system, though portions remain snow covered year round

The Olympic Mountains are thought to hold 266 glaciers and permanent icefields