On our trip last summer we were able to stop at each of the 5 lodges in Olympic National Park. And each one offers something a little different. See what makes each of the 5 lodges so unique!
Planning
Over 3 days our plan was to visit each of the 5 lodges in Olympic National Park. We did not spend a night at any of these lodges. Our goal was to check out the inside and outside of each lodge/resort and do an activity near each one. Here is the list of them in the order we visited them. Click each one to go to that lodge:
Lake Quinault Lodge
The 1st of the lodges in Olympic National Park we visited was not actually in the park. The Lake Quinault Lodge and the South shore of the lake are actually in the Olympic National Forest. Though the outside of the lodge has an old rustic charm you would expect in a national park. We learned from the GuideAlong app that the lodge was built in 1926 of mostly wood.
Inside to the right is the front desk and gift shop. And centered in the lobby is a brick fireplace with antlers on the wall above it. There are leather couches and tables around it inviting us to stay. But instead we head outside onto their deck.
On the deck is a large rain gauge on the back side of the fireplace chimney. It looks like a Native American totem pole with colorful artwork that measures the rain in feet not inches. And it shows a marker for 2016 between 14 and 15 feet which is between 168-180 inches that year!
From the deck, we see a large green lawn and our first views of the blue lake. There are Adirondack chairs by the deck to enjoy the views of kids playing Frisbee and the lake beyond.
At the lake there are kayaks, canoes and paddleboards along the shore for rent. They also have a small dock with a pontoon boat that offers lake tours. And on the other side of the dock we see 2 kids swimming around a platform. But there are also many chairs and driftwood logs where people are just sitting and admiring the beautiful lake. You could easily spend a lot of time here.
Activities we did near Lake Quinault Lodge
The Rain Forest Nature Trail is a short 1/2 mile interpretive hike down the road. It’s a great way to get a taste of the rainforest. The lush trail overlooks Willaby Gorge following Willaby Creek before turning through ancient large trees. And some of these trees grow up to 200 feet tall.
This loop is actually a small part of the trails on this side of the lake. And this trail is a nice leisurely walk through large trees. But just down the road is The World’s Largest Sitka Spruce Tree, a popular roadside attraction.
There is a small parking lot across the street from a short trail to the tree. In a small field we see the tree with a sign in front which tells us the tree is about a 1,000 years old! It also tells us this spruce tree is 191 feet tall and over 58 feet wide. There’s a lot to see on both sides of Lake Quinault and we would love to come back.
Kalaloch Lodge in Olympic National Park
The 2nd of the lodges in Olympic National Park we visited was Kalaloch Lodge. Kalaloch, pronounced “Clay-lock”, means a “good place to land” in the native language of the Quinault people. And less than a minute from the ranger station, the lodge is the heart of this area. Recognizable by its blue trim, the lodge was made from driftwood-milled wood washed up on the beaches here. Once inside you can head to their restaurant or to their gift shop.
But like Lake Quinault Lodge, what makes this place special is outside. Out back we see the lodge is on a bluff overlooking Kalaloch creek emptying into the Pacific Ocean. It’s a great spot and there are some blue Adirondack chairs to relax in.
The lodge is smaller than Lake Quinault but they also have cabins. And next door is the Kalaloch Mercantile built with the same wood and blue trim.
And inside it has just about everything you would need for a stay here. They have grocery items, supplies, souvenirs and of course ice cream.
Activities we did near Kalaloch Lodge
Past the cabins is a walkway down to the beach. Technically I believe the beach here is still part of Kalaloch Beach 2. And it is wide and sandy with plenty of room to explore. The wooden stairs take you down to the sandy beach.
Close to shore there are plenty of interesting rocks. And there are more interesting things we found along the beach including gooseneck barnacles and small Dungeness crabs. At the mouth of the creek we saw many seagulls in the water that flew past our heads as we get closer. This is a very nice beach, and a minute down the road is the Tree of Life.
The Tree of Life is a park wonder, also known as the Tree Root Cave, defying all odds of surviving. This Sitka spruce tree with its exposed roots hanging in the air is healthy and growing over a cave. From the campground parking lot, take the small trail down to the beach and look for people to find this popular attraction. There are many beaches in this area including the magnificent Ruby Beach a little further down the road. Check out more information on Ruby Beach here.
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort in Olympic National Park
The 3rd of the lodges we visited in Olympic National Park is the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. It’s off Highway 101 about half way between Port Angeles and Forks. From either direction it’s about an hour to get to the resort. So, from Forks we hookup the GuideAlong app to learn more about the area on the way. One thing we learned was of the local Native American legend of how the hot springs were formed. I won’t ruin it for you, but it involves quarreling dragons.
At the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, you can soak in hot mineral spring pools in 1.5 hour timeslots every 2 hours. And reservations are on a first come, first serve basis in person only. The cost is $18 per adult or $12 for children, seniors or military. They also have a towel rental for $5, if you didn’t bring your own. Once you pay, you’ll get wristbands for your timeslot. Just check-in at the counter just past their gift shop. For more info, check out: Mineral Hot Springs & Pool (olympicnationalparks.com).
They have 3 soaking pools at different degrees from 99 to 107 Fahrenheit. They also have a regular 73 degree swimming pool to cool off. It’s cold, but refreshing after a hot soak. Though the hot springs are not for everyone, and there is not much else here unlike the other resorts. For this reason this was our least favorite resort. However, there are some nice activities in this area.
Activities we did near Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Besides soaking in the hot springs, we did some other activities in the area. 2 miles down the road from the resort is the parking lot for the Sol Duc Falls Trail. This popular trail to a unique triple waterfall and is considered one of the most beautiful in the park. It’s a 1.6 mile hike to Sol Duc Falls and back through a mix of rainforest and towering trees.
It can be a crowded trail, but it’s an easy walk through moss-draped trees with little elevation change. You’ll hear the rush of the falls well before you get there. But when you see the bridge you’ll get your first glimpse of the flowing rapids. Though, the trail continues past the bridge to some overlooks right at the brink of the falls.
Another popular stop in the area is the Salmon Cascades Overlook. From the resort it’s about 15 minutes down Sol Duc Hot Springs Road heading back to the entrance station. There’s a nice short walk from the parking lot through some large trees to the overlook on the river. And you can see salmon swimming upstream here in the fall. We didn’t see any on our trip, though this overlook is right over the cascades and provides great views. We wouldn’t plan to go back to the resort, but we would definitely come back here when the salmon are running.
Log Cabin Resort in Olympic National Park
The 4th of the lodges we visited in Olympic National Park is 1 of 2 on beautiful Lake Crescent. The Log Cabin Resort is farther to get to, but it’s closer to the popular swimming hole – Devil’s Punchbowl. And it provides different views of the beautiful lake.
Inside they have a counter/bar to inquire about kayak rentals and other water activities. And just past the counter is a little shop that leads to their small lobby and restaurant. They also have additional cabins on the property if you can’t get a resort room.
But like some of the other lodges, what makes this resort special is outside. The resort offers a large lakeshore retreat with views of the surrounding mountains. And they have Adirondack chairs overlooking the lake that look like a perfect place to relax.
They also have a nice dock with various watercraft and outstanding views. And the activities they provide on the lake is what brought us to this lodge/resort.
Activities we did near Log Cabin Resort
The Log Cabin Resort offers 1 or 2 hour paddling times unlike the other lodge nearby. And for an hour, it’s $20 per boat regardless of what kind. We got a tandem kayak and 2 singles, as well as a water bike. They also provide life vests essential on this cold and deep lake. And though the Sun was hidden behind the clouds when we were there, the lake is still beautiful.
Though the resort staff discouraged us from paddling to Devil’s Punchbowl, we did enjoy kayaking to a river and back. We passed many vacation homes and motorboats which surprised us on the way to the river. And on the way back was more beautiful because the mountains were in front of us.
I kept thinking the whole lake would look even bluer if the Sun was out. But as I get closer to the opposite shore the water was so bright blue, it didn’t look real. Getting out on the water is definitely the best way to enjoy this resort area. And though we never did make it to Devil’s Punchbowl by water, you can drive to the Spruce Railroad Trailhead. It’s only a mile drive away where you can hike to the popular swimming hole.
Lake Crescent Lodge in Olympic National Park
The 5th and last lodge in Olympic National Park we visited was Lake Crescent Lodge. As soon as you park you are just feet from the lake where a lot of people hang out on the beach. They also have some cute cottages on the way to the lodge built in 1915.
The entrance door is on the side which leads through the large lobby with leather couches around a fireplace. To the right is a covered patio with seating and straight ahead is the restaurant and bar. To the left are restrooms and the gift shop. And unlike Log Cabin Resort, this lodge is bigger with plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the views.
Though you can get great views from a patio seat, you can walk outside to the lakeshore. Here you can sit on some driftwood and watch the small waves trickle in. They also have a large dock to walk out onto the lake or do similar water activities. If you have plenty of time this would be a great place to spend it. This was also the only lodge we ate at.
Though dinner here is expensive, it was a special occasion and our last night in Olympic. And it turned out to be a great place to celebrate the end of our trip. The food was delicious, but probably the best part was the sunset we saw after dinner.
Even on a cloudy day, the Sun reflecting off the clouds is spectacular. And by this time most of the crowds are gone. We slowly watch the Sun fade away, though we did some other activities near here.
Activities we did near Lake Crescent Lodge
Though we ate dinner and enjoyed the lake views, there is much more to do just down the road. At the Storm King Ranger Station, our daughter received her Olympic National Park junior ranger badge. And just past the ranger station is the start of the hikes to Marymere Falls and Mount Storm King.
Mount Storm King is a much more difficult trail ascending over 2,000 feet up switchbacks. There is even a section you have to use ropes to get to the top. But the 1.5 mile round trip hike to Marymere Falls is an easy and nice walk through the woods. There is a loop around the falls with guard rails and multiple steps up to 2 different viewing platforms. The 90 foot waterfall pools at the bottom where it eventually flows all the way out to Lake Crescent.
Both hikes lead back to the ranger station and field in front of the lake. Some people access the lake here, while we enjoy seeing a couple deer grazing on our way to the parking lot. You could walk from the lodge to the parking lot here, it’s so close. Which makes this a popular place for many activities from strenuous to plain relaxing.
Summary of the Lodges in Olympic National Park
Our goal was to visit and do an activity at or near each of the lodges in Olympic National Park. And we successfully spent time at each one. Our favorite was Lake Quinault Lodge. The outside area and lake were just so beautiful and we wish we could’ve done more activities there. Though Lake Crescent Lodge was a close 2nd and the sunset was amazing. And having a ranger station and 2 popular hikes so close was a plus. Kalaloch Lodge and Log Cabin Resort were not as nice, but they were still surrounded by beautiful scenery. And Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort was our least favorite resort though the Sol Duc area itself is nice. Besides this resort, we would definitely go back to any of these lodges in Olympic National Park!
For more information on the lodges: Olympic Lodging Experience | (olympicnationalparks.com) and Kalaloch Lodge at Olympic National Park (thekalalochlodge.com).