The Excessive Divide Path within the Seven Lakes Basin of the Olympic Peninsula is without doubt one of the most coveted mountain climbing and backpacking routes in Washington State.
Crammed with unimaginable views of jagged Olympic peaks, verdant rainforests, and glistening alpine lakes, this 19-mile loop is usually executed as a 1 to 3-night backpacking journey, though some folks do full it as a day hike.
I hosted a Bearfoot Principle group journey on the Excessive Divide Path (additionally referred to as the Seven Lakes Basin Loop) and we spent 4 days tenting and exploring.
Spoiler alert: it was spectacular.
We began within the rainforest and ended up within the excessive alpine with clear views of the glaciers on Mount Olympus and unimaginable fall colours.
On this weblog put up, I recap our expertise backpacking the Excessive Divide and Seven Lakes Path and share necessary info for anybody who’s contemplating backpacking this iconic Pacific Northwest path.
Because it goes in the entire locations we share, please observe good path etiquette and bear in mind to Depart No Hint. This implies packing out your entire rubbish, being respectful to others on busy trails, and following the established guidelines.
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Watch my YouTube Video highlighting our backpacking journey on Olympic Nationwide Park’s Excessive Divide Path and Seven Lakes Basin Loop:
The Excessive Divide & Seven Lakes Basin Loop Fundamentals
- Distance: 19.1 miles
- Issue: Tough
- Elevation Change: 5,387 ft
- Time wanted: 2-4 days
- Allow Wanted? Sure, for overnights (extra information under)
- Move wanted: Olympic Nationwide Park entrance price or America the Stunning Annual Move
- Canine Allowed? No
- Greatest time to go: July – September
The Excessive Divide Path is situated in Olympic Nationwide Park on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington.
The path begins on the Sol Duc River trailhead, which is situated 3.5 hours drive from Seattle (through ferry or by way of Tacoma).
From there, the path winds its means up by way of dense, moss-draped forests and previous cascading waterfalls, ultimately reaching the alpine setting of the Excessive Divide, a mountainous ridge providing panoramic views.
The path then skirts the sting of the Seven Lakes Basin, a collection of pristine alpine lakes, earlier than looping again all the way down to the trailhead. This loop is called the Seven Lakes Basin Loop.
Excessive Divide & Seven Lakes Basin Loop Path Map
Planning Your Excessive Divide Path Backpacking Journey
When to Go
July to September is the most well-liked time for mountain climbing the Excessive Divide/Seven Lakes Basin Loop.
We hiked in late September when the climate may be iffy with rain, however the fall colours have been well worth the threat.
Relying on the yr, snow also can typically be discovered on the path till mid-July, plus the early season bugs may be brutal, so we don’t advocate mountain climbing in Might or June.
Permits
A allow is required for spending the evening within the Seven Lakes Basin.
Listed here are a couple of ideas for acquiring a Excessive Divide allow:
Tenting
When you’re backpacking the Excessive Divide Path, comply with these tenting guidelines:
Water Availability
Water from streams and lakes is available alongside the path. I like to recommend having a water reservoir in your backpack or carrying a couple of mushy water bottles.
Be certain to filter water previous to consuming.
Bear Canisters
Nationwide Park Service-approved bear canisters are required for storing meals, rubbish & scented gadgets in Olympic Nationwide Park.
The Wilderness Data Heart in Port Angeles has a restricted variety of bear canisters you possibly can borrow if wanted.
Bearfoot Principle Bear Canister Decide
Bear Vault 450
The BV450 is our best choice for the Excessive Divide Path as a result of it simply shops 1-3 days’ price of meals with out being too cumbersome. It’s additionally see-through so that you don’t need to go digging for what you need and it’s NPS-Licensed.
Human Waste
The Excessive Divide Path and Seven Lakes Basin are designated Wilderness and we need to hold them as pristine as attainable.
Please comply with these guidelines and ideas when going #1 and #2:
Excessive Divide Path Packing Record
For a whole record of what to pack in your Excessive Divide & Seven Lakes Basin Loop journey, head over to our 3-Day Backpacking Guidelines.
For moist climates just like the Pacific Northwest, you’ll need a couple of additional items of substances to remain dry and cozy on the path, particularly in the event you hike in late September when air temps are cooler and the prospect of rain is larger.
The factor to recollect is that in wet, humid climates, gear doesn’t dry. So in the event you get soaked on day 1, you’re going to be moist your complete journey.
This may be averted by planning forward and packing a couple of additional items of substances.
Listed here are a couple of gadgets particular to this route:
Learn Extra
Backpacking Gear Guides
My Excessive Divide Path Backpacking Journey Report
Day 0
I name this “Day 0” as a result of that is the day we drove 3 hours from Seattle to a campsite close to the trailhead, so we may rise up early the following day to begin the Excessive Divide Path.
When you go away tremendous early from Seattle, you can skip tenting the evening earlier than.
We stopped for lunch at Crescent Lake, which is a good spot to stretch your legs.
After a cease on the Guests Heart the place we bought the lay of the land, we continued on to the Salmon Cascades within the Sol Duc River, the place boisterous salmon launched themselves up and over waterfalls as they make their option to their spawning grounds.
With loads of daylight left, we reached our evening’s base camp the place we’d be automotive tenting and doing a gear test earlier than an early evening to mattress.
Day 1
Within the morning we packed up camp and drove up the street to the Sol Duc Falls trailhead to start our 3D/2N Excessive Divide backpacking journey.
Our first full day on the path was spent largely within the rainforest, with a aim of roughly 7 miles and a couple of,000 ft. of elevation achieve.
There have been big ferns, moss-covered bushes, and the sound of the Sol Duc River speeding under.
Just below a mile in, we took a brief detour to Sol Duc Falls, which for most people visiting the Park, is a vacation spot in itself.
Many of the path at the present time was a gradual incline. We crossed the river a couple of instances on actually cool log bridges, ultimately reaching a collection of switchbacks that dropped us off proper at our first Group Camp.
In Olympic Nationwide Park, the entire campsites on the Excessive Divide Path are permitted, so you need to keep at your designated campground.
On the Group Campgrounds, we had house to unfold out and, get this…. a clear rest room for doing our #2 enterprise. I’ve to say, not having to dig a gap was a complete luxurious by our requirements.
We have been additionally subsequent to a close-by meadow that bought stunning afternoon solar, which allowed us to dry off any gear that was damp from the evening earlier than.
Day 2
This was everybody’s favourite day on the path. After breakfast and packing up camp, we kicked off mountain climbing at 9:30.
We had somewhat extra climbing to do to succeed in the Excessive Divide Path and shortly we transitioned out of the forest to above the treeline.
Our hike came about in late September and I wasn’t certain what sort of fall colours we might see on the path.
On the primary day within the rainforest, it was all inexperienced. However as we began to realize elevation and transition to alpine vegetation, the shorter vegetation and understory exploded in pink, orange, and yellow, making a vibrant and attention-grabbing panorama.
That is additionally the place we noticed our first two black bears.
We’d see two extra later within the day, simply choosing away at berries on the hillside. It was clear they’d completely no real interest in us, which made our encounters a stand-out expertise from the journey.
After passing Coronary heart Lake, we made our ultimate push to the ridgeline, in any other case referred to as the Excessive Divide and the Seven Lakes Basin.
This was actually the second we have been ready for.
It was nonetheless dry however the clouds have been beginning to roll in and we weren’t certain whether or not we have been going to get these views of Mount Olympus that make the Excessive Divide such an iconic Pacific Northwest Hike.
As quickly as we bought up on the Excessive Divide, Mount Olympus and several other glaciers got here to gentle sandwiched between clouds within the sky and low hangers that blanketed the Hoh Valley.
As we continued on, the views weren’t nearly Mount Olympus. On the north facet of the ridge, we peered down into Seven Lakes Basin, a rocky bowl with seven colourful alpine lakes.
We spent a number of miles on the Excessive Divide with continuous views and simply as we turned again down in direction of Sol Duc, the fog thickened. Our timing couldn’t have been extra excellent.
The paranormal fog clogged our views on the way in which all the way down to our Group Camp at Deer Lake, however the fall colours made up for it.
That night, we had a much-needed stretch session, chowed down on a tasty home made pasta, and sat round and advised tales with sizzling drinks till the rain began to fall.
Day 3
It rained all evening, nevertheless it wouldn’t be a correct Pacific Northwest backpacking journey with no little bit of rain.
Fortunately we have been all ready with the fitting backpacking gear. We additionally all lined our backpacks with trash luggage for additional waterproof safety.
Breakfast and low have been fast, then we donned our rain gear and hit the path.
Like Day 1, we have been again within the rainforest, however at this time we had a simple 4 miles again to the parking zone.
Regardless of the rain, we nonetheless had a blast on the path.
We revisited Sol Duc Falls one final time as we approached the parking zone for one final group photograph earlier than celebrating on the trailhead.
As soon as we have been again within the van, we head over to Sol Duc Sizzling Springs for decent showers.
For individuals who have been hopping on a aircraft that evening, it was a welcome alternative to scrub up. Simply be sure to carry a clear, dry pair of garments and any toiletries.
We had one final picnic lunch earlier than making the three-hour drive again to Seattle.
And that’s our information to backpacking the Excessive Divide Path & Seven Lakes Basin Loop in Olympic Nationwide Park!
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Have you ever hiked the Excessive Divide Path or Seven Lakes Basin Loop in Washington? Is it in your bucket record? What questions do you continue to have? Depart a remark under!
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