Tubal Cain Trail’s Forest Walk to a Mine and B-17 Wreckage

A log bridge over Silver Creek is a fine introduction to the Tubal Cain Trail: forested, a little wild around the edges, and more interesting than a simple walk in the woods. The route begins in an Olympic Peninsula valley where water, big trees and old mining history all share the same stretch of trail.

The outing has a pleasing two-part character. The approach to the old Tubal Cain mine is generally smooth, maintained and gently uphill, while the continuation to a crashed B-17 bomber becomes a much steeper, more demanding forest climb.

That contrast gives hikers options. A visit can be a manageable ramble to the mine and creek crossings, a longer day built around the aircraft wreckage, or the beginning of a larger route toward Buckhorn Pass, Marmot Pass and the Olympic high country.

The early miles make room for looking around. Old-growth sections give the valley a deep-green, established look, and spring rhododendron blooms can add bright color among the trees. There are also openings with views across the valley and toward surrounding mountains.

Silver Creek remains a recurring companion. In addition to the log bridge, other crossings can call for a little stone-to-stone hopping. In warmer weather, that small bit of hands-on route finding can be one of the more cheerful parts of the walk.

Deer are sometimes seen along the trail, occasionally calm enough to watch hikers pass without much fuss. Wildlife is never an appointment, of course, but this is a route where it pays to keep looking beyond the trail tread.

The mine gives the walk an unusual destination before the strenuous portion begins. Rather than arriving at a polished historic site with interpretive buildings and railings, hikers find a small, shallow old working in the woods—an artifact of the valley’s mining past.

The opening has been described as roughly 30 to 50 feet deep, but it is confined and damp, not a conventional cave attraction. It is best treated as a brief, limited-exploration stop from the exterior or entrance area, rather than a place to venture far inside.

A warm layer is useful around the damp mine, and a headlamp can help with dark sections near the entrance. The simple tools suit the setting: this is a forest hike with remnants of industry, not a developed underground tour.

Beyond the mine, a small Toll Canyon sign marks the turn toward the airplane wreckage. It is an easy detail to appreciate because it signals a real change in the day. The trail heads into the trees and begins climbing much more sharply.

This is the point to be honest about the route’s split personality. The initial approach is relatively forgiving, but the path to the plane asks more of legs and lungs. The crash site should be considered a separate, tougher objective rather than a casual add-on after the mine.

As the route closes in on its destination, scrap metal begins to show through the forest. The sight is startling precisely because the setting is so natural: trees, slope, creek country—and then the remains of a large military aircraft.

The B-17 remains are not presented as a formal roadside memorial or a fenced attraction. They are scattered wreckage in the surrounding forest, reached only after the steep climb from the mine.

The prominent front section is the piece that tends to stop people first, but additional aircraft fragments can be found farther along. That makes the destination feel less like one object at trail’s end and more like an unsettling trail of history spread across the hillside.

It is a rare combination for a day hike: a creek-and-old-growth walk, a modest mining remnant, and the remains of a bomber hidden in mountain forest. The wreckage has an exploratory quality, but the terrain leading there deserves equal attention.

Reported trips vary widely, from a few hours for a shorter visit to roughly 7 to 10 miles round trip for longer objectives. One estimate puts the elevation gain at just over 1,000 feet, though the exact feel of the day changes considerably depending on where hikers turn around and whether they continue to the wreckage.

The mine area sits near campsites and creek crossings, allowing the route to fit naturally into an overnight outing. It can also function as an entry point for longer Olympic Mountain itineraries, with access continuing in the direction of Buckhorn Pass and Marmot Pass.

The practical appeal is that no single version of the trail owns the day. A group can enjoy the comparatively mellow forest approach and historic mine, while hikers seeking a bigger effort can keep going toward the plane.

The trailhead is reached by a narrow, winding dirt road. It is generally passable, but potholes and washboarding are part of the approach, and winter conditions can bring snow and ice.

Parking is limited—roughly 10 vehicles by one estimate—and there are no services or facilities at the trailhead. The sparse setup matches the route’s character: this is a backcountry-style starting point rather than a heavily built recreation area.

Road conditions, creek levels and trail conditions can shift with rain, snow and the season. Once on the main approach, the trail is generally in good shape, but wet crossings and the steep route beyond the mine keep the outing from being completely carefree.