Soon after moving to the area a friend took me for a ride up Lords Lake Loop Rd. We went up past the reservoir. We kept going on dirt roads. He told me that he saw his first black bear from here. That day we saw deer and a stellar jay. We heard chipmunks and we heard a woodpecker pecking at a tree. I was buzzed by a hummingbird.
There are also lots of flowers along the way. There are lots of rhododendron. It is the state flower. White and purple foxglove are all over the place. I saw tiny bunchberry and foam flowers growing in the shady spots. There were a lot of plants that have edible berries at certain time of the year. We saw things like huckleberry, trailing mountain blackberry, salmon berry and wild strawberries.
We stopped at two creeks along the way. I think they have water running year around. They had little pools and waterfalls. I don't recommend drinking the water. But they are nice stops for a picnic or just a break from the drive. The road has pullouts every few hundred yards and on both sides of the roads. There is not a lot of traffic but if you cross the road from one of these places make sure you look both ways. There is also a large parking lot in the middle of the route with trails that go off into the woods.
This route is not a power trail. It is intended to show you a route from Quilcene to Palo Alto Road without going onto the highway. Fuel up for a 28 mile drive on forest service roads. Bring food and water. There are no services along the way. This is an opportunity to show you why it is great living in this area. So many different plants and animals in our 'back yard.' Make sure you dress in clothing and footwear suitable for the area. There may be mud and snow in some seasons. Also there may be ticks, snakes, mosquitoes, and other crawlies in other seasons.
Have fun and enjoy the scenery as you travel this route.