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Olympic NP: Sol Duc River - Seven Lakes Basin Loop
Approximately 18 mile loop with about 8,000 of total elevation gain/loss. Moderate difficulty. Perfect for a three day, two night leisurely adventure.
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| Author: | jeremiahosgo07 |
| Activity: | Backpacking |
| State: | Washington (WA) |
| Distance: | 16.9 mi |
| Difficulty: | 6 / 10 |
| Rating: | Unrated |
This 18 mile loop is perfect for a three day - two night backpacking adventure while still being able to tool around and check out the surrounding off-trail country. With about 3,500' of elevation gain along the first 10 miles, this trip qualifies as moderately difficult. Most of the campgrounds/campsites have bear wires to store food so bear-proof containers are not necessary. Two Ranger Stations, staffed only in the summer, offer limited respite and amenities. Be sure to bring your camera for some incredible pictures along the High Divide portion of the trail that follows the ridgeline. Excellent views of Mt. Olympus and Blue Glacier from Bogachiel Peak. Several alternative options exist for adding another day or two to this hike. Add another day and night and hike the Bogachiel Park - Mink Lake loop, which can end either at Sol Duc hot springs (total mileage added approx. 7 miles) or go back to where you began the hike (total mileage added approx. 10 miles). Add another day and night, several more miles, and a bit of elevation gain/loss and hike down into the Hoh River valley and Hoh Lake from the trail junction near Bogachiel Peak.
TO TRAILHEAD:
From Port Angeles, WA, take Hwy. 101 West approximately 30 miles.
Turn L at the Sol Duc Springs Park signs.
Continue along Sol Duc Springs road to the Ranger Station (approximately 12 miles).
Continue past the Ranger Station and Sol Duc hot springs picnic area approximately 1.5 miles to the trailhead parking lot.
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
SD7LK_01
| Distance: 16.90 mi | Points: 2140 |
Olympic NP: Sol Duc River - Seven Lakes Basin Loop
Points of Interest
SD7LK_001
Location: 47.972252, -123.864105Sol Duc River Ranger Station and Wilderness Information Center. Pick up your backcountry permit here.
SD7LK_002
Location: 47.969959, -123.862610Sol Duc hot springs.
SD7LK_003
Location: 47.955532, -123.836060Sol Duc River trailhead and parking area. Start (and Finish) of the upper Sol Duc River - Seven Lakes Basin loop trail. Elevation: 1900 feet
SD7LK_004
Location: 47.951599, -123.819740Trail junction. Continue straight (E) @ junciton with Deer Lake Trail. Alternative: to do this loop in reverse, turn R (S). Elevation: 1975 feet
SD7LK_005
Location: 47.951626, -123.819672Canyon Creek shelter (near Sol Duc Falls).
SD7LK_006
Location: 47.951469, -123.819466Sol Duc River Falls. Spectacular view and great photography opportunities.
SD7LK_007
Location: 47.932270, -123.750496Trail junction with Appleton Pass Trail. Keep straight (E). Trails starts to ascend more. Elevation: 3133 feet
SD7LK_008
Location: 47.930466, -123.742432Trail starts to ascend more rapidly as you pass Seven Mile shelter and Upper Sol Duc campground on your R. Elevation: 3160 feet
SD7LK_009
Location: 47.918083, -123.727036Sol Duc Park shelters and Ranger Station. Ranger station is only staffed in the summer. Heart Lake campsite, a great place to camp for the first night, is about 0.60 miles further. Elevation: 4220 feet
SD7LK_010
Location: 47.912685, -123.730560Hear Lake shelter and Sol Duc Park campsites. Pretty area. Less than 0.25 mile to Heart Lake campsites. Elevation: 4527 feet
SD7LK_011
Location: 47.910549, -123.733025Heart Lake and campsites. Excellent campsite with wide open views of the surrounding mountains. Perfect place to camp the first night. Elevation: 4773 feet
SD7LK_012
Location: 47.907612, -123.737541Turn Righ (W) @ the Cat Basin trail intersection. Altenative: Add another day to this hike by turning L (E) and hiking down into the Cat Basin. Elevation: 5,050 feet
SD7LK_013
Location: 47.906567, -123.761810This part of the trail (High Divide) follows the ridgeline. Great views of the Seven Lakes Basin to R and Hoh River Valley to L. A look back over your shoulder (@ about the 7 o'clock position), reveals spectacular views of Mt. Olympus and Blue Glacier.
SD7LK_014
Location: 47.905067, -123.775337Trail junction. Keep right to climb up Bogachiel Peak for some spectacular views. Alternative: turn left (S-SW) and add another day by heading down into Hoh Lake and the Hoh River Basin. Elevation: 5415 feet
SD7LK_015
Location: 47.905548, -123.777641Bogachiel Peak. Great views N of Sol Duc, Long, and Lunch lakes and SE of Mt. Olympus and glaciers. Continue along the High Divide trail. Elevation: 5474 feet
SD7LK_016
Location: 47.911770, -123.788757Turn R at the trail junction to head down into the Lunch Lakes area and campsites.
SD7LK_017
Location: 47.915718, -123.785545Lunch Lake camp. Great views of the surrounding terrain. Nice breeze off the lake. Beautiful stand of trees to camp in. Bear wires already at the camp.
SD7LK_018
Location: 47.916691, -123.784088Lunch Lake Ranger Station. Only staffed during the summer months. Limited amenities.
SD7LK_019
Location: 47.913002, -123.793442Trail junction with a small dog leg. Continue straight (W).
SD7LK_020
Location: 47.917686, -123.818802Trail junction at a samll pond. Keep R (straight N). Alternative: Bear L (N-NW) for a short dog leg trail to the summit of a small hill on your left.
SD7LK_021
Location: 47.921467, -123.819405Trail junction from summit of small hill. Keep right (N).
SD7LK_022
Location: 47.925640, -123.822205Trail junction. Keep R (N). Alternative: turn L (W) and continue along the Bogachiel Park - Mink Lake Loop (adds approximately another 10 miles if ending up at the same place; or end at the Sol Duc River Ranger Station). Elevation: 3602 feet
SD7LK_023
Location: 47.925713, -123.822655Deer Lake shelters and campsites. Beautiful place to camp. Follow the trail N back to Sol Duc Trail and waypoint "SD7LK_002". At the trail junction (same waypoint), turn L (W) and return to the trailhead. Elevation: 3542 feet
SD7LK_024
Location: 47.931007, -123.821800Trail junction. Keep R (N). Trail from the L comes from Deer Lake.
SD7LK_025
Location: 47.940937, -123.821609Trail junction. Keep L. There are a few trail dog legs here and in the next 0.30 miles but they all tie back into the main trail.
SD7LK_026
Location: 47.942924, -123.821701Trail junction. Keep straight (N). All these side trails here tie into this main trail within the next 0.30 miles.
SD7LK_027
Location: 47.946289, -123.823021Trail junction. Continue straight (N). The last of the short dog leg trails that all tie back into the main trail.
SD7LK_028
Location: 47.950874, -123.820915Trail junction from L. Keep straight (E-NE). Trail from the left heads W downstream along the S bank of the Sol Duc River and eventually ties in with Lover's Lane and the Sol Duc Ranger Station. Elevation: 1932 feet
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