Lake crescent wa log cabin resort12/10/2023 ![]() ![]() From Olympia, follow Highway 101 north toward Port Angeles. In the Tacoma area, Highway 16 takes drivers across the Narrows Bridge to the Kitsap Peninsula, avoiding any ferry crossings. If you’re coming from the downtown Seattle area or south Seattle, the ferry to Bainbridge Island is a better option. From north Seattle (and points further north), most visitors take the ferry from Edmonds, Washington to Kingston on the Kitsap Peninsula, then head east toward Port Angeles. Lake Crescent Lodge, located about midway along the lake, is 20 miles east of Port Angeles, the largest town on the Peninsula. The southern shore of the lake hugs Highway 101 as it heads east to west across the northern Olympic Peninsula. Lake Crescent is part of Olympic National Park. This, of course, is the best time to visit for swimming and boating, but spring and fall are ideal for those seeking peace and quiet. Summer is the busy season here, especially on sunny weekends. Droughts in recent years have brought even more sun, but also higher fire danger. With that said, beautiful, pleasantly warm weather isn’t uncommon in summer. While the area around Lake Crescent is certainly drier than the nearby Hoh Rain Forest, it’s smart to expect rain. Due to the Olympic Peninsula’s mild maritime climate, it doesn’t see much snow in winter, but is often cold and wet (gee, maybe because it’s a lake? haha). ![]() You can visit Lake Crescent at any time of year. Since many of the funds that support our national parks come from the sale of these passes, I encourage all who can afford one to purchase a pass. In many places, I didn’t see signage about parking fees, but one park ranger told me that a pass is required everywhere within Olympic National Park. There are no entrance stations at Lake Crescent, but you will pass them en route to Hurricane Ridge or Sol Duc.įull disclosure: I am not sure if payment is technically required when parking at Lake Crescent. Since Lake Crescent is located within Olympic National Park, be sure to hang your America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass) in your car window, or show a receipt for the $30 entrance fee (valid for up to seven days) that can be purchased at a park entrance.You can also purchase an annual pass at a park entrance station or parking lot pay station. ![]() ![]() Lake Crescent view near the start of the Spruce Railroad Trail It’s also a wonderful home base for exploring the northern Olympic Peninsula. Lake Crescent is an ideal location for paddling, swimming (if you don’t mind a little cold water), and camping. This is great news for the thousands of visitors who flock to Lake Crescent each year to marvel at its serene beauty. A number of vacation homes dot the north shore, but national park status effectively quashed further development. Today, historic Lake Crescent Lodge on the south shore and Log Cabin Resort on the northeast are the only remaining resorts. Prior to then, a number of small resorts were built along the lakeshore, as well as private homes. In 1938, it was included as part of the newly created Olympic National Park. Even if its depths are no longer a mystery, Lake Crescent remains unfathomably beautiful. Legend also has it that the lake is bottomless, but in actuality, it’s around 650 feet deep at its deepest point. According to local tribal legend, the landslides were caused by Mount Storm King, who was angered over the incessant fighting between the Quileute and Klallam tribes, and sought to separate them. As a result, today we have Lake Crescent to the west, and the smaller Lake Sutherland to the east. Originally, a much larger lake spread across the northern end of the Olympic Peninsula, but ancient landslides split it into two. Glacially carved Lake Crescent is famed for its incredibly clear water, with visibility extending down as far as 60 feet. Whidbey & Fidalgo Islands Paddle & Swim. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |