Toutle River Trail is a 11 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Toutle, Washington that features a waterfall and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
birding
camping
hiking
nature trips
walking
forest
views
waterfall
wildlife
scramble
E. E.
Did this trail the last week of September and the fall colors were fantastic. The Toutle Trail from the trailhead to the intersection with the Sheep Canyon trail was in good shape and there were some boards across the creek just below Blue Lake. Doing the loop there were several large trees that had come down across the trail, but none of them presented any problem getting around. My track record came to a little over 12 miles. Three miles to the loop and the loop was six miles. Didn't see anyone else on the trail.
I took my time enjoying the cool and quiet PNW forests in the beginning of the hike and took in the awesome views of Saint Helens once I cleared the thicker portion of the timberline. The Sheep Canyon Trail waterfall is beautiful and has the perfect outcropping for an amateur photographer such as myself. Also, seeing firsthand the raw power and destruction of the pyroclastic flows is awesome. The hike is challenging enough but rewarding throughout. I only saw 2 other hikers on the trail that day. Unfortunately there was quite a bit of haze in the air, both from the forest fires in Canada and the rest of the PNW, and I'm sure cranky Saint Helens was doing her part to contribute to the haze. Hopefully someday I'll be fortunate enough to summit her!
Gary J.
Hiked from red rock pass to blue lake first afternoon! Camped off trail first night, Then took Toutle river trail to Loowit Trail (216) ! Hiked all the way to butte camp second day! Steep drops and sketchy trail in some spots! Found fixed ropes to aid in traversing wash! We spent the day at the tree line but as can happen were socked in clouds! Found a beautiful waterfall and only saw another hiking team once in two days!
Did this a couple weeks ago and the fall color was incredible. Tough hike in spots: couple of washouts along streams can make it tricksy to pick the trail back up; be prepared and know your route. Rough road to the Blue Lake trailhead. But the views on Sheep Canyon, Toutle, and Loowit trails are worth the effort. Hiked 8 hours and never saw another soul but us.
The road leading up to the trail point has some serious potholes so watch out. Then the last 3 miles is gravel road with more potholes. The beginning of the trail is a bit tricky to find but once you are on it, you are good to go. Very pretty surroundings and views so I'm not sure why there aren't any reviews on this one.