Alpine Lakes & Hot Springs
United States
Trip Highlights
- Amazing High Country
- Hot Springs
- Waterfalls & Rainforests
- Alpine Lakes & Wildflowers
- Panoramic Views
- Wonderful Cuisine
Description
PLEASE NOTE: This trip is temporarily discontinued due to a road washout. Apologies for any inconvenience this causes.
Want a little bit of everything, and not afraid of a challenge? This trip traverses through rainforest, high alpine lakes and passes, and down to the famous Olympic Hot Springs.
The first day starts off near tumbling Sol Duc Falls before a steep and heart-pounding climb into the Seven Lakes Basin. Dramatic views accompany use past Bogachiel Peak, alpine wildflowers, and panoramas of the Olympic Mountains. Day 2 takes us along the High Divide Trail to Appleton Pass, and then a steep descent on day 3 is rewarded by a camp next to Olympic Hot Springs. We’ll finish the hike along Boulder Creek before emerging near Port Angeles. Photo opportunities, wildlife, and serenity abound.
$1235 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 30-40 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 5-7 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 3116 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 3565 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Well maintained
- Additional:
- This trip features significant elevation gains and losses on trails that are at times quite steep, which is makes this trip a Difficulty 4.
Participants should:
- be active and healthy
- exercise several times per week
- be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Olympic National Park hike a solitude 3. You can expect hours of solitude at a time.
Learn More about our Rating SystemThe most common way to reach Olympia is by flying into Seattle and renting a vehicle or shuttling to Olympia (approximately 1 hour). SeaTac (Seattle-Tacoma) Airport is one of the most easily accessed destinations in the country. Many major cities in the United States and internationally offer direct flights into Seattle.
The shuttle to Olympia is provided by Capital Aeroporter and costs $30-$45 per person each way. Go to www.capair.com/olympia or call 800-962-3579 to make reservations.
Washington State does not charge sales tax on services, so there is no sales tax for this trip.
All trips in Olympic National Park have a 3% fee required by the National Park Service. This fee is applied when your reservation is made and is passed through directly to the national park.
There are no other taxes or fees associated with this trip. Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) with any questions!
Private Trips
Traveling in perfect company is a wonderful thing! With our private trip offerings you can book a trip exclusively for your group. Whether it’s with family, friends or colleagues, private trips are a fun and enriching way to explore the outdoors.
Private trip pricing is based on a sliding scale, depending on the number of people in your party. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax and national park fees (where applicable) or guide gratuity. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE to get the ball rolling!
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2
- 3 People: Rate x 1.3
- 4 People: Rate x 1.1
- 5+ People: Rate x 1
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsItinerary
Day 1
- Shuttle to the trailhead: 3.5 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3565 feet
This multi-day Olympic National Park hiking trip begins with pick you up at your hotel in Olympia, and a scenic drive to the trailhead on the Olympic Peninsula. We’ll drive up the Hood Canal and get some views of the Straits of Juan de Fuca and Lake Crescent before continuing to our trailhead at the Sol Duc River. Once at the traihead, we’ll get our packs on for a steep 7 mile hike to our first camp at Lunch Lake. After hiking past Sol Such Falls we’ll climb steeply to connect with the High Divide Trail. We’ll traverse east, topping out on the summit of Bogachiel Peak at 5,474’ (a high elevation for this coastal range), with panoramic views of Mount Olympus, the Seven Lakes Basin, the Hoh River Valley, and more. Alpine wildflowers appear as soon as the snow melts, so our odds of finding spectacular wildflowers are good all summer long and will vary depending on our elevation. We’ll continue along the High Divide Trail for a few more miles until we drop down into Lunch Lake for a well-deserved rest
We’ll set up camp, enjoy a tasty backcountry dinner turn in for a wonderful night of sleep.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 6.1 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1800 feet
- Elevation Loss: 2000 feet
Day 2 takes us along the High Divide Trail, dropping up and down a steep ridge and passing several beautiful alpine lakes along the way. After a few miles of traversing through flower-filled meadows, we’ll drop steeply down to Appleton Junction, and then climb back up towards Appleton Pass—2,00 feet in 2.6 miles. It’s not easy, but the payoff is glorious. This is the price of hiking in the high country of the Olympics! We’ll make our camp at 5,200 feet at Appleton Pass, and let our legs rest before the descent of Day 3.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 5.1 miles
- Elevation Loss: 3116 feet
It’s all downhill on day 3. After a lazy breakfast at Appleton Pass, we’ll pack up and head east towards Boulder Creek and the Elwha River Basin. A steep descent will keep us occupied while we rapidly shift in life zones from the high alpine back down to old growth forest. We’ll set up camp at Boulder Creek, and have a chance to soak our sore muscles in the Olympic Hot Springs—the only wilderness hot springs on the peninsula! We’ll enjoy one last hearty dinner together, and listen for wildlife in the forest when we turn in for the night.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 2.4 miles
- Elevation Loss: 600 feet
- Shuttle to Olympia: 3 hours
Day 4 is a mellow end to a challenging trip. We’ll have a pleasant meandering hiking back to the trailhead over a forest road converted to trail, and see first hand some of the restoration efforts since the removal of the Elwha Dam. A short 2.4 miles will take us to the trailhead, where our shuttle driver will pick us up and drive us back to Olympia. You’ll finish the trip with the satisfaction of having traversed some of the steepest and most beautiful terrain in the Olympics.
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad and technical backpack
- Quality synthetic sleeping bag professionally laundered after every trip (or bring your own)
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified Olympic National Park hiking guide
- Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Olympia and back
- All entrance fees, permits and passes
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (Oboz hiking shoes and boots recommended)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware sleeping bags (or bring your own)
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki or Black Diamond trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
What Gear to Bring
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter water bottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
Additionally, many guests choose to bring their own sleeping bag. Wildland sleeping bags are professionally laundered after every trip, which requires the use of synthetic-fill bags. Down sleeping bags are lighter and smaller, which many people prefer.
What Clothes to Bring
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
Trip Logistics
How Do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
Where Do We Meet?
This trip originates in Olympia, Washington. Your guide will be in contact approximately 10 days before the trip start date to coordinate the pre-trip orientation, which will be at 5:00 PM at the Hotel RL Olympia (we recommend staying here as well – mention you’re hiking with us and get a discounted rate as low as $99, 360-943-4000). If you’re staying at the Governor Hotel (our other recommended hotel, 20% discount), we’re happy to pick you up for the orientation. Your guide will then pick you up at your hotel the next morning for transport to the trailhead.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Safety Considerations
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and most tours carry a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
Group Size and Age Restrictions
The maximum and standard group size on this Olympic backpacking trip is 6 guests and 1 guide. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Weather in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park covers a dramatic diversity of terrain from seashores to rainforests to alpine peaks and glaciers. The weather will be largely dependent on which trip you sign up for and which ecosystem you will be hiking in. Read below for average high and low temperatures in different parts of Olympic National Park:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||||
|
Month
|
Coast
|
Mountains
|
||||||
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
|||
|
June
|
66°
|
47°
|
3.8 in
|
53°
|
36°
|
3.9 in
|
||
|
July
|
70°
|
50°
|
2.8 in
|
62°
|
42°
|
2.1 in
|
||
|
August
|
72°
|
50°
|
2.8 in
|
63°
|
43°
|
2.2 in
|
||
|
September
|
69°
|
47°
|
4.4 in
|
57°
|
39°
|
4.7 in
|
||
|
October
|
42°
|
59°
|
11 in
|
47°
|
32°
|
8.5 in
|
||
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
FRESH & DELICIOUS
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
IN THE ACTION
Of course campsites vary tremendously by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your backpacking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
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