Gifford Pinchot National Forest Layser Cave Hike Hike 18
Length: 1/4 mile round trip Elevation Change: 100' Elevation gain / 100' loss Season: Spring thru Fall Difficulty: Easy Permit: NW Forest Pass Required Features:
This hike begins on Forest Road #2300.084. Actually,
this should be called a walk, not a hike. It is only
800 feet from the parking area to the entrance of
the cave.
Layser Cave is one of the most significant archaeological
sites in western Washington. The cave was discovered by
forest worker, Tim Layser in 1982.
The cave is only about 60 x 40 feet in size. Experts
have determined that the cave was used for thousands
of years by native peoples dating back as much as
5000 years. The cave appeared to be abandoned with
no apparent cause over 300 years ago.
A Virtual Hike in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
