Visiting Valley View Forest
Visiting Valley View Forest
Activities:
What You’ll See
Valley View Forest is a mix of bigleaf maple trees, Western redcedar, and Douglas fir. Three trails provide easy- to moderate-intensity hiking opportunities through the forest, along a stream, and to a covered community pavilion built using wood harvested from this working forest. Valley View is managed as a community forest, to provide ecological, economic, and social benefits. This special place will eventually become the gateway to the much larger Chimacum Ridge Community Forest (estimated opening 2025)
Visitor Information
Allowed
Hiking, wildlife viewing, and nature studies group use by pre-arrangement. Dogs are allowed and must be kept on a leash at all times for the safety of other visitors and wildlife. Please remain on the trails except in the signed nature studies area to avoid damaging sensitive habitat.
Group or special use
To request permission to visit this preserve with your group of 8 or more people, or to propose a special use not listed above, please complete this short information form and a staff member will get back to you about the proposed group/special use.
Not allowed
Biking, horseback riding, motorized vehicle use, hunting, fires, camping.
Amenities
There’s a wheelchair-accessible sanican at the parking area. There are benches for resting and quiet contemplation located at the end of the Maple Grove Trail and the Valley View Overlook Trail. A X by Y ft covered community pavilion provides a gathering place for organized educational and other activities.
Trails
Here’s a trail map and field guide to assist with your exploration:
Nature Studies Trail
A 0.1-mile (5-minute) gravel trail that leads from the parking area across a year-round creek to the community pavilion and nature studies area. The trail is 4-5-feet wide. The gradient is generally below 5%, although an approximately 20-foot long section approaches 12% as visitors climb above a small creek. The trail is made of compacted 1/4-inch minus gravel to provide a stable, level, hard, non-degrading, and non-slick surface for long-term durability and a comfortable visitor experience.
Maple Grove Trail
A 3-minute spur through a scenic maple grove accessible from the Nature Studies Trail. The trail has a dirt-surface, is 2 feet wide, and requires navigating some roots and seasonally muddy areas. The trail is approximately 5-15% grade.
Loop Trail
A 0.5-mile (13-minute) trail of mixed gradients can be visited in different segments, or as a complete loop. Trail leads from the parking area up above a year-round creek and along a forested slope before returning to a relatively level forest paralleling Center Road with views into Center Valley.
- Upper Loop Segment: An 8-minute trail climbs to the left from the parking area up a slope with views into a creek drainage and the surrounding forested ridge. This dirt-surface path is 2-3 feet wide, with occasional roots to navigate. This trail segment is moderately to steeply sloped, and approaches a 20% grade as it climbs up above the creek and down again to the Lower Loop trail segment.
- Lower Loop Segment: A 0.1-mile (5-minute) trail that leads from the parking area to the Valley View Overlook spur trail and Upper Loop Trail junctions. The Lower Loop segment is 4-5 feet wide, made of compacted 1/4-inch minus gravel to provide a stable, level, hard, non-degrading, and non-slick surface for long-term durability and a comfortable visitor experience. The gradient ranges from 5-12%.
- Valley View Overlook Spur Trail: A 2-minute spur trail leads from the Lower Loop segment to a scenic overlook of Center Valley, with a rustic bench for resting. The trail is 4-5 feet wide, made of compacted 1/4-inch minus gravel to provide a stable, level, hard, non-degrading, and non-slick surface for long-term durability and a comfortable visitor experience. The gradient ranges from 5-12%.
Getting There
Operating Hours/Season
Open year-round, from dusk to dawn; subject to temporary partial or full closures due to forest management activities. Day use only.
Address
Directions
- From Chimacum Corner, travel 1.7 miles south on Center Road to the gravel driveway on the left.
- This leads to Valley View Forest’s public parking area and trailhead.
Parking
Space for up to 12 cars, including 1 designated van-accessible space. Please do not park in the driveway or in neighboring driveways or use neighboring driveways as turnarounds.
#RecreateResponsibly
Avoid crowds: If the parking lot is full, please make plans to return another day.
Learn About The Protection of this Property
Valley View Forest
We welcome you to explore this critical “gateway” forest that will eventually link Center Road to the adjoining landmark property, Chimacum Ridge, which the Land Trust purchased in late 2023, with plans to to transform it into a community forest that’s managed, designed, and directed by the community.