Olympic Alpine Lake Ascent - Overnight
Olympic Alpine Lake Ascent - Overnight
This 2 day, 1 night backpacking excursion takes us on a dynamic and challenging trail with an incredible payoff of a pristine alpine lake surrounded by jagged peaks of the lower Olympic Mountains. While late spring/early summer rewards epic views of the snowy peaks, late summer brings wildflowers and berries to the meadows providing us with treats as we climb.
From Union, we drive up the scenic 101 on the Hood Canal for just over an hour before reaching our trailhead. Our hike begins in the Olympic National Forest following a trail where steep switchbacks give way to rock scrambles and meadow meandering over 4 miles before entering the Olympic National Park and reaching the beautiful alpine lake which will be our camp for the night. On day 2 we take our time on the descent, retracing our footsteps back to our starting trailhead.
A gain (and loss!) of nearly 4000 feet of elevation and sections of steep, rocky and uneven terrain makes this hike a perfect fit for those who are looking to sweat it out while exploring the beauty of the Olympics. Because of the length, elevation gain and varied terrain we consider this to be a challenging hike which we recommend for those who are very physically active and have at least a little previous hiking experience.
Don’t have time to commit to an overnight or just prefer to take this on as a challenging day hike? Check out our day hike version of this trip!
*In recent years we’ve seen many of our favorite hiking trails and areas become damaged due to overuse. To protect this spot, we’ve omitted the name of this Lake from the trip description.
RATES:
- 1 Person $1,800
- 2 people $1,050/ person
- 3 people $800/ person
- 4 people $700/ person
*For groups larger than 4 please fill out a Custom Trip Request
TRIP OVERVIEW
- Length: 2 days / 1 nights
- 7.8 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: +/- 3,832 ft.
- Trip meeting point: Union, Wa
Our trips are customizable and fitted to you! After you inquire about or request to book a backpacking trip that we offer, we will contact you to talk about some of the trip specific fitness requirements, answer any questions you have and make sure the trip is a great fit for you and your group. After we confirm the booking of your trip, we will send you a detailed itinerary and packing list with some of our recommendations for clothing and other essentials as well as some training tips to help you best prepare for the trip.
Each backpacking trip varies in its level of physical demand but guest pack weights tend to be 35- 45 lbs total depending on the length of trip. We will give “packing light” tips to our guests before the trip to help keep these weights as low as possible.
Additional Porter service
Depending on our availability, we may be able to offer an additional “porter” service on a multi-day trip for individuals or groups who would like additional support carrying gear. A porter will carry up to 35 lbs of gear. The porter Rate: $250/ per day. If you are interested in adding a porter to your trip let us know when you fill out a booking inquiry.
- Fun and knowledgeable guide(s) As HYOH guides, we are stoked to share our favorite places with you and share what we know while experiencing all the lush beauty that the Olympic Peninsula has to offer. All our multi-day guides have received Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training and carry first aid kits and satellite devices when we visit wilderness areas. Safety is our number one priority!
- Gear. HYOH will get you set up with a tent, backpacking pack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, eating kit (bowls, utensils, cups) and trekking poles. This is a great way to test out some gear before making a huge investment into your own personal backpacking gear!
- Food. From the morning we pick you up until we drop you off we will take care of keeping you fed! We provide snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the trip (except for the last day as we will get you dropped off after one final lunch together.) Your guide will take care of water filtration and cooking set-up! Before your trip, we will check in with you about your diet restrictions and preferences.
- Permits. For our trips that require reservations and permits through the Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park – we got you covered!
- Transportation. The trip price that you see includes transportation for 1-4 guests from Union, Washington to the trailhead and back. When you book your trip, we will ask where you would like to be picked up in Union. We can also provide a meeting place in Union if that is more convenient for guests. If you prefer to meet at the trailhead, that works too (just keep in mind that you will have to provide your own vehicle pass and park entry fee when required.) If there are more than 4 guests in your group or you would like transportation from another location inquire about a custom trip and we will work with you directly to plan your trip. We are often able to provide a shuttle service for an additional fee.
- Personal hiking clothing and comfortable hiking shoes or boots
- Sun protection and insect repellant (depending on season)
- Personal medications and hygiene products
- Water bottle(s) or water bladder
- Headlamp + batteries
Tipping your guide is not expected but always appreciated! Industry standard is 10-20% of cost
Our trips are customizable and fitted to you! After you inquire about or request to book a backpacking trip that we offer, we will contact you to talk about some of the trip specific fitness requirements, answer any questions you have and make sure the trip is a great fit for you and your group. After we confirm the booking of your trip, we will send you a detailed itinerary and packing list with some of our recommendations for clothing and other essentials as well as some training tips to help you best prepare for the trip.
Each backpacking trip varies in its level of physical demand but guest pack weights tend to be 35- 45 lbs total depending on the length of trip. We will give “packing light” tips to our guests before the trip to help keep these weights as low as possible.
Additional Porter service
Depending on our availability, we may be able to offer an additional “porter” service on a multi-day trip for individuals or groups who would like additional support carrying gear. A porter will carry up to 35 lbs of gear. The porter Rate: $250/ per day. If you are interested in adding a porter to your trip let us know when you fill out a booking inquiry.
- Fun and knowledgeable guide(s) As HYOH guides, we are stoked to share our favorite places with you and share what we know while experiencing all the lush beauty that the Olympic Peninsula has to offer. All our multi-day guides have received Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training and carry first aid kits and satellite devices when we visit wilderness areas. Safety is our number one priority!
- Gear. HYOH will get you set up with a tent, backpacking pack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, eating kit (bowls, utensils, cups) and trekking poles. This is a great way to test out some gear before making a huge investment into your own personal backpacking gear!
- Food. From the morning we pick you up until we drop you off we will take care of keeping you fed! We provide snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the trip (except for the last day as we will get you dropped off after one final lunch together.) Your guide will take care of water filtration and cooking set-up! Before your trip, we will check in with you about your diet restrictions and preferences.
- Permits. For our trips that require reservations and permits through the Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park – we got you covered!
- Transportation. The trip price that you see includes transportation for 1-4 guests from Union, Washington to the trailhead and back. When you book your trip, we will ask where you would like to be picked up in Union. We can also provide a meeting place in Union if that is more convenient for guests. If you prefer to meet at the trailhead, that works too (just keep in mind that you will have to provide your own vehicle pass and park entry fee when required.) If there are more than 4 guests in your group or you would like transportation from another location inquire about a custom trip and we will work with you directly to plan your trip. We are often able to provide a shuttle service for an additional fee.
- Personal hiking clothing and comfortable hiking shoes or boots
- Sun protection and insect repellant (depending on season)
- Personal medications and hygiene products
- Water bottle(s) or water bladder
- Headlamp + batteries
Tipping your guide is not expected but always appreciated! Industry standard is 10-20% of cost
