Finally made it to Seven Lakes Basin after years of dreaming about an epic day hike here. This was the most mileage I've done in a day, so I was nervous about being able to complete the loop before sunset. But with an early start, we finished with plenty of daylight to spare and ample time to enjoy all the beautiful scenery along the way. There's lush rainforest, tranquil mountain lakes, stunning views of Mt. Olympus, high-altitude tarns, vistas overlooking miles of forested valleys - truly some of the best sights that Olympic NP has to offer.
Highlights:
Berries: I don't usually eat wild berries, but the blueberries along this trail looked so plump and juicy that I couldn't resist plucking a few to try. WOW...those berries were so sweet and tasty, I couldn't stop eating them and almost forgot about the sandwich I brought along for lunch. You'll see blueberry bushes popping up along the trail after Deer Lake. They're abundant along the entire Seven Lakes Basin section until you descend back into the woods after Heart Lake. Berries are ripe now, so act quickly!
Wildlife: Encountered deer and grouse on the trail within the first few miles. Near Heart Lake, a flock of ravens flew overhead, chatting to each other with their funny raven noises. I'd never seen such a large group of ravens before, only ever seen them alone or in pairs.
Privy: Shout-out to the exceptional privy at Deer Lake Campground. It looks brand-new and features a foot pump that removes waste with a conveyor belt. Definitely the fanciest and most luxurious wilderness privy I've ever experienced. Unfortunately the privy at Heart Lake Campground was suffering from overflow issues and just couldn't compare.
Day Hike Route: As mentioned, this loop is doable as an early-autumn day hike if you get an early start. We hit the trail at 8am, took the loop counter-clockwise, and returned shortly after 5pm. Since we were nervous about timing, we skipped the Lunch Lake and Bogachiel Peak side quests, but I think we could have done the Lunch Lake spur and still returned before sunset.
Day Hike Difficulty: (Counter-clockwise) Overall, the elevation gain is gradual until you reach the ridge above Seven Lakes Basin. Then the trail flattens out and you're essentially hiking at elevation along the ridge until you descend back into the forest and meet up with the Sol Duc River. The last few miles are a gentle stroll through the woods, a relief for sore feet and legs. I think most of the difficulty of this hike is the sheer number of miles you'll cover along the way.
Air Quality: Excellent. We didn't see or smell any smoke from the wildfires at the eastern edge of the park.
Trail Condition: This trail is in excellent shape, though the path can be rocky in spots (especially in the forest sections). We met a trail crew with chainsaws after the Lunch Lake turnout. Thanks for your great work keeping our trails in tiptop condition!
After completing the 19-mile loop, we headed back to town and celebrated with burgers & beers. A return trip is in order - we'll be sure to visit Lunch Lake next time!
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