Perhaps you have passed this adorable cabin on your way to Murhut Falls or to hike the Duckabush River Trail. Or, perhaps you have considered renting it for the weekend. What is the story? Let’s go!
The first thing you will read about the cabin anywhere is that it was “built in 1907 as the first administrative site in the Olympic National Forest.” Apparently, Hoodsport native and forest ranger Emery J. Finch built the cabin for his new bride Mabel.
More than 115 years later, you can rent this cabin for a rustic experience in old-growth Olympic forest. The cabin is accessible by car (you can park directly out front) and offers basic amenities. Since it is in a beautiful setting and is only about $50/night, it books out very quickly.
Cabin booked? Try staying at nearby beautiful Dosewallips State Park.
Staying for the weekend? We recommend Paddling the Duckabush Estuary, E-Biking the Dosewallips River Road, or watch sunset on the water with dinner on Pallin’ Around Charters.
Nature Trail at the Interrorem Cabin (Interrorem Trail #804)
The trailhead at the interrorem cabin parking area first leads to a 0.3 mile “nature trail loop” before expanding to a mile-long trail to Ranger Hole on the Duckabush River. Please respect the privacy of potential guests at the cabin. The only restroom in the area is a vault toilet at this trailhead.
The sights, sounds, smells, and feel of being in a rainforest quickly envelop visitors as they wander through second-growth forest of huge cedars and fires, stepping over ferns, and stooping to admire tiny mushrooms. This is an accessible path suitable for those with children.
Ranger Hole Trail (#824)
The 1.85-mile roundtrip trail guides visitors along a gentle path to a stunning fishing hole. The path was beat into a trail by the former ranger residents who fished for sustenance and recreation. Use caution on the edges of this rushing, frigid river.
Behind the “Interrorem” Name
According to the US Forest Service, “the name interrorem, according to the most popular theory, was derived from Latin meaning “between the gold.” Others believed it was slang for “interim,” used by those who thought the cabin would be a temporary site for managing the forest. Instead, it has played an important role in local Forest Service history over the last century.
From 1908 to 1933, the station served as an administrative site for both the Olympic National Forest and the Forest Service that administered the Mount Olympus National Monument that would later become Olympic National Park. From 1933 to 1942, Interrorem hosted several Depression-Era government programs including the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Emergency Relief Administration (ERA), and the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). And then from 1942 to 1986, it served as a fire guard station.
The cabin is part of the Recreation Cabin Rental Program, enjoyed and treasured by many.”
