Bogachiel Mt., High Divide, Seven Lakes Basin Loop: 5,474 ft.Elevation gain: 4,000 ft. Distance: 19 mi. Time: 9-11 hrs. 60% alpine. Trailhead 1,900 ft. Enjoyment rating: 5+

Bogachiel Mt. left; from High Divide loop trail

Overview:This is the best day hike in the Olympics. It has everything: Lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls, peaks, alpine meadows, expansive views, wild flowers and wild animals. Bears are often seen around the lakes or on the berry covered hillsides. Mountain goats are usually seen near the trail, looking for salt. Elk herds are occasionally spotted at the head waters of the Sol Duc River. Olympic Marmots seem to be everywhere in the high meadows. The hike is long at 19 miles and the trail is rocky and rough for about 8 of those miles but the sights could fill many photo albums. Bogachiel Mt. is the half way point on the loop. The many close views of Mt. Olympus and the Bailey Range are spectacular.

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Mt. Appleton: 6,000 ft.Elevation gain: 4,200 ft. Distance 18 mi. Time 10-11 hrs. 40 % alpine. Trailhead: 1,835 ft. Enjoyment rating: 4.

Peak 6100: 6,100ft. Elevation gain: 4,300 ft. Distance: 18 miles Time: 9-10 hrs. 40% alpine. Trailhead: 1,835 ft. Enjoyment rating 4.

Mt. Appleton from Appleton Pass. Route is up the high saddle, just left of pk

Overview:This is a strenuous but worthwhile hike to an alpine saddle between two peaks. From the saddle you can choose which peak to go for. Peak 6100 is 100 ft higher, is closest to the Appleton pass trail and is therefore often called Mt. Appleton. Just north of peak 6100 is the real Mt. Appleton. The hike begins at the Olympic Hot Springs trailhead at 1835 ft., passes by the hot springs, then follows the south fork of boulder creek past the upper and lower boulder creek falls to Appleton Pass, a beautiful alpine setting.

Getting to The Trailhead:Turn left on the Elwah River Road, 9 miles west of Port Angeles. Follow the road 10 miles to its end and the trailhead at 1,835 ft.

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Mt. Lena and Upper Lena Lake: 5995 ft.Elevation gain: 5,300 ft. Distance: 17 miles Time: 10-11 hrs. % alpine 25% Rating 4 Trailhead: 700 ft.

Mt. Lena from Upper Lena Lake. Route in red

Overview:Beautiful Upper Lena Lake is sandwitched between two peaks, Mt. Lena to the north and Bretherton to the south. Bretherton is a very tough scramble. Mt. Lena is much easier and the views from the top are spectatular. The Brothers and Mt. Constance seem close enough to touch. Mt. Lena involves some bushwacking from the lake to get to the slopes but it is well worth the trouble. The 7 mile trail to Upper Lena Lake passes by, the often crowded, Lower Lena Lake. The trail to the upper lake weeds out the majority of casual hikers, especially the last 1.5 miles, which are steep and gnarly with roots and rocks in places.

Getting to The Trailhead:From U.S Hwy 101, 13 miles north of Hoodsport and near mile marker 318, turn west on the signed, Hamma Hamma River Road. Drive 8 paved miles to the Lena Lakes Trailhead on the right at 700 ft. elevation. A large parking area is on the left.

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Mt. Skokomish and Lake of the Angels: 6,434 ft. Elevation gain: 4,950 ft. Distance: 9.8 mi. Time: 9-10 hrs. Trailhead: 1,500 ft. Alpine 50%. Enjoyment rating 4+

Mt. Skokomish from 2 miles up the trail. Route in red

Overview:Skykomish is a shorter but very steep hike to a beautiful, Lake of the Angels, set in a large alpine basin. And towering above the lake are the massive rocky peaks of Mt. Stone and Mt. Skokomish. Even the trail to the lake involves some light to moderate rock scrambling. The off trail portion, up to Mt. Skokomish, involves more difficult rock scrambling. But it is all worth it. The views in every direction are awesome and the whole area is one of the most beautiful and rugged in the Olympics.

Getting to The Trailhead: From U.S Hwy 101, 13 miles north of Hoodsport and near mile marker 318, turn west on the signed, Hamma Hamma River Road. Drive 12 miles to the Putvin Trail, No. 813. An historical marker on the right side of the road, dedicated to Pioneer Carl Putvin, will mark the beginning of the trail. Note that the road is paved the first 8 miles to the Lena Lakes trail then becomes gravel.

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Petunia Peak and Upper Royal Basin: 6981 ft.Elevation gain from Upper Dungeness trail: 4,481 ft. Distance: 14 miles Time: 9 hrs. 50% alpine. Trailhead: 2,500 ft. Enjoyment rating 4+

Petunia Peak and Royal Lake

Overview:This is a very difficult but exhilarating loop hike up the Dungeness River to the Royal Creek trail, up to the big meadow just before Royal Lake, then off trail up Petunia Peak, then down to Goat Lake, then down to the Dungeness River at Camp Handy, then back to the trailhead. It also can be done as an up and back hike or, if petunia peak is clouded in, as a hike to the Upper Royal Basin instead. So it has great flexibility and all the elements of an alpine adventure: rivers, lakes, big trees, a high hike-able peak, fast falling water, incredible views of high peaks in all directions and off trail scrambling.

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Colonel Bob Peak: Elevation 4,492 ft. Elevation gain: 4,560 ft. Distance: 14.4 mi. Time: 9 hrs. 20% alpine. Trailhead: 230 ft. Rating: 3.

The big trees and rainforest of the Colonel Bob trail.

Overview:As the crow flies, the Colonel Bob peak is located 5 miles east of Lake Quinault. This is the only day-hike-able peak in the Olympic rainforest. The Colonel Bob trail winds through the magical Colonel Bob Wilderness, a world of ferns, tumbling water, mosses and old growth trees. Huge Sitka Spruce, Douglas Fir and Western red cedars reach toward three rocky peaks: Mount O’Neil, Mount Gibson and Colonel Bob. Colonel Bob is the highest and most accessible of the three.

Getting to The Trailhead:The Colonel Bob trailhead is located six miles from Hwy 101 and three miles beyond the Lake Quinault Lodge, on the South Shore Road. Look for a sign and a small parking area on the right side of the road, houses are on the left. Lake Quinault and the South Shore Road are located in the Southwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula.

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Griff Peak 5120 ft.Elevation gain 2.600 ft. Distance: 7mi. Time: 6 hrs. 80% alpine. Hurricane Hill Trailhead: 5,075 ft. Enjoyment rating: 2.

Unicorn Peak 5,200 ft. Elevation gain, 2,800 ft. Distance: 8 mi. Time: 7-8 hrs. 80% alpine. Hurricane Hill Trailhead 5,075 ft. Enjoyment rating 3.

Griff peak, right, from Hurricane Hill.

Getting to The Trailhead: From Hwy 101 in Port Angeles take Race St. south and drive 17 miles to the top of Hurricane Ridge, then past the Visitor’s Center 1.5 miles to the end of the road and the Hurricane Hill trailhead.

Overview:This is a rugged hike that goes off trail after you reach the top of Hurricane Hill. You cross a burn from a 2003 forest fire, which makes the steep ridges even more difficult because the burned ground is slicker. Hurricane Hill is 5,757 ft and 1.5 miles from the trailhead and Griff peak is another very tough 1.5 miles north, dropping down to 4,600 ft. before climbing back up to Griff peak at 5,120 ft. Unicorn Peak is another tough .5 mile west of Griff along the ridge. The hike involves a Jekyll and Hyde contrast in trails. The first half, the Hurricane Hill trail, is a partially asphalt trail through high alpine meadows with gorgeous views of the Olympics, especially the Bailey Range, the Strait of Juan De Fuca and Canada. It is a very popular short alpine hike and draws all ages. The Griff Peak, Unicorn off-trail hike cuts north cross country, on a rocky ridge from Hurricane Hill. It’s like a dragon’s tail, up and down with tough footing and steep ridges, involving some hard rock scrambling at times. After about .75 mile you enter the burn, which is interesting to study for rejuvenation, but makes footing more difficult because of the number of downed trees which the hiker must navigate. You are not likely to see anyone else on this part of the trail.

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Grand Peak: 6,701 ft. Elevation gain: 4,000 ft. Distance: 12.4 mi. Time: 7 hrs. 100% alpine. Trailhead: 6,150 ft. Enjoyment rating 5+

Grand peak, center, rises above Grand Valley

Overview: This is a world class hike by any standards. It has the best of alpine and sub alpine. It has all the elements: lakes, waterfalls, streams, peaks, views, good trails with lots of options, animals, alpine trees and meadows. The only downside is that it is a down, then up, then down, then back up hike. It is the price of geatness.

Getting to The Trailhead:From hwy 101 in Port Angeles, take Race Street south toward Hurricane Ridge, 17 miles to the Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center. Take a hard left on Obstruction Point road at the beginning of the parking area. It is an 8 mile narrow, gravel road to the trailhead. At the trailhead Elk Mt, Blue Mt. and Grand Ridge is straight ahead, Grand Peak and Grand Valley is to the right up Lillian Ridge.

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Boulder Peak: 5,600 ft.Elevation gain 3,800 ft. Distance 13.1 mi. Time: 7 hrs. 25% alpine. Trailhead 1,825 ft. Enjoyment rating: 4.

View down to Boulder Lake from Boulder Peak

Overview:Boulder Peak includes a hike up an old historical path to Olympic Hot Springs, then through huge trees of an old growth forest, then up a steep ridge to a gorgeous alpine lake, Boulder Lake. From the lake it is 1,300 feet in .5 mile Boulder Peak, just west of the lake. Views of the surrounding country are very dramatic and worth the climb.

Getting to The Trailhead:Turn left on the Elwah River Road, 9 miles west of Port Angeles. Follow the road 10 miles to its end and the trailhead at 1,825 ft.

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Appleton Pass Ridges: 5,750 ft.Elevation gain: 3,750 ft. from the Sol Duc trailhead at 1,950 ft. Distance: 16 miles. Time: 6-7 hrs. 40 % alpine. Rating 4+

Appleton Pass and south ridges from the north ridge.

Overview: Yes, I know, this is not listed as a peak. But the ridges north and south of Appleton Pass have plenty of unnamed peaks to explore. The variety of choices makes this a choice spot. It is a fun hike up the Sol Duc River, then to Appleton pass and a walk up to a peak 1 mile southeast from the pass or a scramble up steeper ridge peaks north of the pass. So once at the pass you will have choices for short peaks, all of which provide excellent views.

Getting to The Trailhead:The trail begins at the Sol Duc trailhead at the end of the Sol Duc River road. The Sol Duc River road is a left turn 30 miles west of Port Angeles and 2 miles west of Lake Crescent off Hwy 101. The trailhead is 16 paved miles from the turnoff.

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