- Vacation Rentals
- Case Inlet
- Hood Canal
- About Grapeview
- See & Do Grapeview
- Dining Mason County
- Local Attractions
- Chainsaw Carving
- Local History & Culture
- Recreation by Land
- Recreation by Water
- WA State Parks
- WA Nature Preserves
- WA Museums
- Privacy Policy
- Disclaimer
- Contact
The historic Dalby Waterwheel is located just south of the Union Post Office on State Route 106. The metal waterwheel, which turns nonstop to the delight of children, parents and photographers, once furnished the first hydro-electric power on Hood Canal.
Nearby are luxurious Alderbrook Resort and Spa and a summer home and retreat compound for Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates.
Visit www.dalbywaterwheel.org to view photos or to learn more about the recent relocation of this historic landmark.
This one-room schoolhouse operated from 1904 to 1944 and the adjacent gymnasium, lunchroom and performance stage became the Lilliwaup Community Clubhouse in the 1950s.
Today, the Lilliwaup Community Club has been revived and is going stronger than ever, hosting a public potluck at 6:30 pm on the second Thursday of every month except January. (Come as you are; no notice required.)
Find the historic old school gym by taking highway 106 south along Hood Canal, and connection to Highway 101 going north at Potlatch. Continue north through Hoodsport and proceed 5 miles to Lilliwaup. The school gym is next to rustic and authentic Lilliwaup Store and Motel (where you’ll find rich and creamy Olympic Mountain Ice Cream ready for your eating pleasure). The trip takes about 50 minutes from Grapeview.
High Steel Bridge —
The High Steel Bridge was built by Simpson Logging Company in 1929 as part of a logging railroad. Its construction opened up an area of Olympic Peninsula timber that was previously inaccessible. In 1950, the railroad tracks were replaced with wooden planks, allowing vehicles to pass. Not until 1964 did the bridge receive concrete decking and guardrails.
The High Steel Bridge is a must for photographers and those who love the thrill of heights. This 685-foot bridge is perched 420 feet above the South Fork of the Skokomish River, often swollen with snowmelt rushing down from the slopes of the Olympic National Forest and Wonder Mountain Wilderness. During the rainy season, a deep chasm channels thousands of cubic feet of water per second through its narrow walls with spectacular force.
A striking sight in this remote forest, the bridge structure is an engineering feat, and a carryover from the area's logging history. Visitors peering down from atop the High Steel Bridge feel as if they are suspended in mid-air.
Take Highway 106 south of Union to the Purdy Cutoff Road (on your left and just across from Hunter Farms produce stand). Cross Highway 101 and Purdy Cutoff becomes the Skokomish Valley Road at the Adams Hatchery. Travel on the Skokomish Valley Road for approximately five miles to Forest Service Road #23. As the road forks, take the right fork. Continue on for a little less than 2.5 miles to Forest Service Road #2340. Another 2.5 miles or so on this road brings you to the bridge. You can't miss it. It’s about an hour’s scenic drive from Grapeview, the latter miles quite spectacular.