Route: Wonderland Trail – Westside Section – Mowich Lake To Longmire (Plus Side Trips) Distance: 38.5 (Around 35 Miles On The Wonderland Trail) Days: 4 Longest Day: 11.3 Miles Campsites: Mowich Lake, Golden Lakes, Klapatche Park, Devils Dream
Click To View Full Size
Update (8-10-2014): Due to high temps and melting snow there has been reports on NWHikers that the Mowich Bridges may be out possibly adding a sketchy ford. Please always check trail conditions with a Backcountry Ranger before attempting any hike.
Dad and I were lucky once again this year and got a permit for the section of the Wonderland Trail that we wanted. Even better we got the camps we requested. We left a car down at Longmire and then Mom drove us up a couple of days later and dropped us off to camp at Mowich Lake so that we could get an early start on the first day of our hike.
Route: Trailhead To Blue Glacier (Round Trip) Distance: 36.2 Miles Days: 3 Longest Day: 14.8 Miles Campsites: Lewis Meadows,Martin Creek
Click To View Full Size
Ever since my Dad and I went up the Hoh River Trail in 2011 we have wanted to go back. My brother has spent the last four years in Japan for work and has been home visiting for the last couple of weeks, He wanted to do a backpacking trip with us.
We debated between heading into the Enchanted Valley or, if the conditions allowed, doing a trip up the Hoh River Trail to the Blue Glacier. Everything seemed to fall into place when the ladder that the park installs during the non-winter months to assist hikers down a large avalanche chute was installed for the season a few days before our trip was due to begin. With the ladder in place and decent enough weather forecasted we decided that the Hoh River Trail trip was a go.
We piled into the car and drove the 3 hours to the Hoh Visitor Center and got our permits.
Dad and I wanted one last hike to cap off a great year of hiking. The weather was amazing so we packed up the car and headed north around the Olympic Peninsula to hike the High Divide Trail.
When I was little my family hiked up to Deer Lake and then day hiked up to the High Divide but I had never done the loop before. It was time to change that.
At The Trailhead
We left the trailhead around 9 in the morning and made good time to Sol Duc Falls.
Sol Duc Falls
From the falls we headed up the Deer Lake Trail towards Deer Lake.
Deer Lake Trail
The 3 miles from Sol Duc Falls to Deer Lake are fairly step and rocky. However, about half way up to Deer Lake there is a tree with a butt. That sight helped us forget that we were climbing as we joked about it and before long we had made it to Deer Lake.
Deer Lake Trail
Butt Tree
Deer Lake
After eating lunch at Deer lake we continued the climb up to the High Divide. The trail is a fairly constant climb from the lake to the High Divide. But the Fall colors where vibrant so it was easy to keep our minds off the fact that we had climbed for nearly 8 miles.
Heading Out From Deer Lake
Small Tarn
High Divide Trail And Fall Colors
Rocky Trail
After a few miles of climbing we got our first good look at the 7 Lakes Basin and Lunch Lake. I remember when I was a small kid both my brother and I brought our fishing poles up to Lunch Lake. The water was so clear and blue. Even though we did not catch any fish and I was only 7 years old it is still one of my clearest memories. It was really neat to see it again all these years later.
7 Lakes Basin Sign
Lunch Lake
After enjoying the view of Lunch Lake we continued our climb up towards the High Divide. Just before the top is a fork and we took the Hoh Lake Trail towards Hoh Lake to camp for the night.
Hoh Lake Trail
Olympic Marmot
Hoh Lake is 1.2 miles from the Junction. We hiked around the edge of a ridge and then dropped down to the lake. Coming into the lake we saw a black bear on the other side of the ridge. We never got close enough to it to get good pictures, but we did take the opportunity to walk around the lake.
Hoh Lake
Hoh Lake
Hoh Lake also has a stunning view of Mount Olympus and as the sun started to set we were greeted with an alpine glow on the mountain.
Mount Olympus
After a long day of climbing we climbed into our tent and slept well.
The next morning we woke up and headed out back towards the High Divide. We had to hike the rest of the High Divide Loop today which would result in around 12 miles of Hiking. We took a few minutes once we left the lake to enjoy the view of the Hoh River and Mount Olympus then hiked backed up to the High Divide Trail seeing a bull elk along the way.
Ready To Leave Hoh Lake
Looking Towards The Hoh River And Mount Olympus
Bull Elk
High Divide Trail Junction Sign
Once back on the High Divide trail we took a short detour to Bogachiel Peak and then worked our way across the High Divide towards Heart Lake. The entire way was full of Fall colors and a constant view of Mount Olympus and the Blue Glacier.
7 Lakes Basin From Bogachiel Peak
Me On The High Divide Trail
Fall Colors
Mount Olympus And Blue Glacier
Mount Olympus
Heart Lake
We ate a quick lunch at Heart Lake and then hiked down to the Sol Duc River Trail and stayed on it all the way back to the trailhead.
Hiking Downhill Finally!
Back At The Trailhead!
This trip should be on anyone’s list who wants to spend some time in the Olympics. Especially in the fall.
Route: Dosewallips Washout To North Fork Of The Quinault Trailhead Distance: Around 60 Miles Days: 6 Longest Day: 17.1 Miles Campsites: Forest Service Road, Deception Creek, Dose Meadows, Hayes River Ranger Station, Low Divide Photos:Flickr Set
Days after my dad and I completed the 36 mile hike up to Mount Olympus in 2011 we started looking into where we would take a multi-day hike this year. After much discussion we finally settled on a thru hike of the park from the Dosewallips Road washout to the North Fork of the Quinault trail head with a side trip to Lost Pass.
Route: Staircase to Flapjack Lakes and Gladys Divide Distance: Around 20 Miles Days: 2 Longest Day: 14 Miles Campsites: Flapjack Lakes Photos:Flickr Set
Dad and me took advantage of the amazing weather this last weekend to do a overnight backpacking trip up to Flapjack lakes in the Olympic National Park.
Route: Graves Creek Trailhead To Enchanted Valley (Round Trip) Distance: Around 28 Miles Days: 2 Longest Day: 14 Miles Campsites: Enchanted Valley Photos:Flickr Set
After our trip up to Mount Olympus on the Hoh River Trail last year my Dad and I were ready to head back into the Olympic National Park. The Enchanted Valley is a huge valley nearly 14 miles up the East Fork of the Quinault River. The valley walls are covered in waterfalls and right in the middle of the valley is an old Chalet that was built in the early 1900s. The building now acts as a backcountry ranger station and emergency shelter. It’s a pretty special place regardless of what time of year one hikes there.
Route: Parents House to Willapa Hills Distance: Around 8 Miles (Round Trip) Days: 2 Longest Day: 4 Miles
We got some new gear over the winter and wanted to try it out so we hiked the 4 miles from my parent’s house to some property they own in the Willapa Hills. This was just a quick overnight trip.
When I was little we used to go backpacking a lot. In fact, when I was 6 years old my family made the 26 mile round trip trek into the Enchanted Valley (Olympic National Park). For whatever, reason we stopped going. 24 years later, my dad and me got the itch to throw our packs back on and head into the wilderness once again.
Without any training and with gear from the 80’s we decided that our first backpacking trip should probably be a short overnight trip. After some discussion we went right for a 3 Day, 36 mile hike to the base of Mount Olympus and back.
Recent Comments