Click to Return Home

Click to Return to Previous Page
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Layser Cave Hike
Hike 18



Move Your Mouse Over the Camera Icons on the Map to View Photo Here






Topo USA 5.0

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

All for the love of hiking!