Queets River Trailhead is the beginning of two trails, the Sam's River Loop (2.8 miles/4.5 km), and the longer (16.2 miles/26.1 km) Queets River Trail. Sam's River Loop is a level day hike through different ages and stages of temperate rain forest, but winter storms often damage this trail, so you may have to scramble over fallen trees and other obstacles!

Queets River Trail has somewhat more elevation gain, fluctuating between 240 and 800 feet. It will also require fording the large river, so it may only be suitable for later season hikes when the flow is lower. 2.4 miles (3.9 km) up Queets River Trail, just before Coal Creek, there is a small side trail to the left that leads 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to one of the biggest Douglas-fir trees in the park, a humbling giant at 212 feet (65 meters) tall and 14 feet (4.2 meters) in diameter!