Enjoy a mix of solitude and company along a ridgetop with two backcountry lakes and sweeping alpine views.
Begin your hike at the Appleton Pass trailhead, descending to the Happy Lake trailhead via a 1.3-mile road walk. Once at the trailhead, the route wastes no time ascending to Happy Lake. At 0.25 mile reach a small creek. This is the last reliable water source prior to Happy Lake, so it’s a good place to top off.
Continue climbing for three miles, reaching the ridge crest at 4,500 feet. Views expand along the ridge; at 4.8 miles a viewpoint looks out at the Elwha Valley and surrounding peaks of Mounts Appleton and Angeles.
At 5.8 miles is the side trail to Happy Lake. The half-mile path drops 400 feet to the lake’s grassy shores, where a few established campsites can be found. This makes a good destination and turnaround point for dayhikers, as well as a good water source.
Back at the ridge, continue traveling west while taking in views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Mount Olympus and the Bailey Range. At about 8.3 miles, arrive at the Aurora Divide Trail junction. Continue left to Boulder Lake, following ups and downs along the ridge. The trail climbs to an overlook at 4,900 feet with views of Boulder Peak and Lake.
Drop 500 feet — steeply at times — to the side trail to Boulder Lake. Well-established campsites can be found in the basin.
Continue the loop from Boulder Lake by descending 2.9 miles along the Boulder Lake Trail to a junction with the Boulder Creek Trail. Continue left, arriving at Boulder Creek Campground and the side trail to Olympic Hot Springs. Continue for 2.3 miles on the old roadbed to the original Olympic Hot Springs/Boulder Creek trailhead. Things will start to look familiar at the next junction as you walk hike along Olympic Hot Springs Road again — in 1.5 miles, you'll reach the turn you took to get onto the Happy Lake Ridge trail. This time, continue forward. Follow the road, heading back the way you came, another 7 miles to the Madison Falls trailhead.
WTA Pro Tip: Much of Happy Lake Ridge lacks water. Be sure to top off your bottles at the lakes.
Happy Lake Ridge
48.0413,
-123.5902
Map & Directions
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Length
- 30.0 miles, roundtrip
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Elevation Gain
- 9,650 feet
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Highest Point
- 5,280 feet
Enjoy a mix of solitude and company along a ridgetop with two backcountry lakes and sweeping alpine views.
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Hiking Happy Lake Ridge
Map & Directions
Trailhead
Before You Go
Road closed: The Olympic Hot Springs Road is inaccessible to vehicles due to a washout. Data for this route reflect a hike starting at the Madison Falls trailhead which is the last accessible trailhead before the washout.
Parking Pass/Entry Fee
National Park PassWTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.
Getting There
Headed west on Highway 101 from Port Angeles, drive 8.5 miles and turn left onto Olympic Hot Springs Road (just before the bridge over the Elwha River). Continue down Olympic Hot Springs Road, until you reach the park entrance gate. Buy a pass, (or flash one if you already have one) and park at the Madison Falls trailhead.
Note: This is currently — and will indefinitely be — as far as a vehicle can go on Olympic Hot Springs Road due to flood damage.
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