Our adventures continue today to the beautiful Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. Along with our 3 kids, we kicked-off Grandma’s birthday in the Enchanted Hoh Rainforest this morning. And now we’re headed to Lake Crescent for a relaxing afternoon before a special dinner at the lodge. Come see what makes Lake Crescent a popular destination for all ages!
About Lake Crescent and Planning
Lake Crescent is a popular destination in Olympic National Park for many reasons. If you drive on US-101, you will drive for miles along its shoreline. And that’s when you’ll get your 1st glimpse of its blue-green waters. This glacially-carved lake is officially 624 feet deep. And it’s so clear you can see up to 60 feet down in spots. It is also very cold so you have to take precautions. You can read more at: Lake Crescent Area Brochure – Olympic National Park (nps.gov).
Since today is Grandma’s birthday we are planning something special. And after visiting the Hoh Rainforest this morning, we plan to arrive after lunch in the early afternoon. First we want to get out on the water, and found kayak rentals at Log Cabin Resort to be best. Not only can you rent just 1 or 2 hours, but it’s close to the popular Devil’s Punchbowl. So while we kayak there, we’ll let Grandma relax by the lake. And once done, we’ll drive to the Lake Crescent Lodge on the other side. Here we’ll explore a bit before we hike to Marymere Falls. And after the hike, we’ll return to the lodge for Grandma’s birthday dinner in the Lake Crescent Lodge Dining Room. We’ll see if we have time for anything else.
Log Cabin Resort
There are 2 national park resorts on the lake. But Lake Crescent Lodge offers boat rentals for 4 or 8 hours only, which is unfortunately more time than we have. But after calling Log Cabin Resort, I found you can rent for 1 or 2 hours which is much cheaper. Plus I read the location is not far from Devil’s Punchbowl, a popular swimming hole. But by the time we pull into the resort, it’s almost 2:00PM and overcast.
The parking lot past the boat rental building is full, but a car is leaving and we take their spot. We then walk to the boats, but find we have to pay inside. So we walk around the back by the lake. We see a couple Adirondack chairs that look like a perfect place to relax. And we get inside to the counter/bar to inquire about kayak rentals. I ask about kayaking to Devil’s Punchbowl and the guy behind the counter gives me a shocked look. Then he tells me we can’t go there because there’s a chance of lightning and we have to stay close.
We were planning a 2-hour paddle, but we’re already an hour late. So I don’t argue and ask for 1-hour rentals. It’s $20 per boat regardless of what kind. So I get a tandem kayak for Becky and our daughter, while Matt and I get singles. And then they tell us there are no more kayaks, but Drew says he’ll take a water bike. Just past the counter is a little shop, then their lobby and restaurant. Grandma doesn’t want to get wet, so she finds a comfy spot while we go to get our boats.
Kayaking Lake Crescent from Log Cabin Resort
By the time we get back to the boat building with our receipts, it’s already after 2:30PM. And we are ready to get on the water. We wait for a few minutes before a guy shows up and verifies our receipts. We then grab life vests, and he escorts us down to the dock and our boats. Becky and our daughter get in the tandem kayak first and they are ready to go. And though the Sun is still hidden behind the clouds, the lake is still beautiful.
Matt and I follow in our single kayaks and Drew catches up to us on his water bike. It is what it sounds like, a bike made into a boat with handlebars and even a bike seat. Though Drew complains there’s something wrong with the bike seat and it’s very uncomfortable. But he is able to keep up pedaling alongside of us.
The guy at the dock had recommended not going straight across the lake due to motorboats in the middle. He also told us we can go as far as they can see us. Which means not going to to Devil’s Punchbowl. But he did recommend heading right to a river and turning around. So, we head that way passing many vacation homes and motorboats. It’s surprising they allow either on the lake.
As we get closer to the last house with an old wooden boathouse, we notice the water is getting greener. It is actually getting shallower because we can see down to the sandy bottom. And soon we get to a roped-off area where we see people walking in the water. This is where we turn back.
Kayaking back to Log Cabin Resort
The way back is more beautiful because of the mountains in front of us. But while everyone is paddling or peddling back the way they came, I head along the other shore. This side doesn’t have many homes and I see some geese near the shore. But what is interesting is the water is much bluer on this side.
I keep thinking the whole lake would look even bluer if the Sun was out. But as I get closer to the shore the water gets so bright blue, it doesn’t look real. I get close enough to shore to hear people on the Spruce Railroad Trail walking to or from Devil’s Punchbowl. But I see I’ve got less than 15 minutes left, so I turn to head back to the resort.
Though there were a few motorboats pulling tubes, they are now gone. So, I kayak across the middle back to Log Cabin Resort. As I get closer I can see the others have made it back safely. So, I slowly paddle back enjoying the view of the mountains until I get back to the dock. It’s right at an hour. Once we return our gear, we head inside the resort to get Grandma. We find her in the lobby and head back to the car to drive to Lake Crescent Lodge.
Lake Crescent Lodge
From Log Cabin Resort we drive past East Beach back to 101. And then we head back West until we turn onto Lake Crescent Road. At the 1st stop sign we see a lot of cars parked everywhere. We turn left passing many cars parked on both sides of the street to another stop sign. And then we see a small parking lot next to the lake. We’re able to find a spot and we get out to walk to the lodge. Across from the parking area is the lake and there are a lot of people hanging out on the beach. And we see some cute cottages to our left as we walk into the lodge built in 1915.
The entrance door takes us in on the side as we pass through the lobby with leather couches around a fireplace. To our right is a covered patio with seating and straight ahead is the restaurant and bar. To the left we find the restrooms and the gift shop. We find out the gift shop is open until 8:00PM today, so we have plenty of time to come back. Grandma decides she’s not up for another hike, so we find a spot for her on the patio overlooking the lake. It’s almost 4:30PM, which is gives us 2 hours before we have to back for dinner.
Storm King Ranger Station
We drive back down the street past all the cars parked on the road to the Storm King parking lot. I drop Becky off in front of the ranger station while I find a parking spot. And as we are about to get out of the car and head toward her, Becky calls me. She tells me to grab our daughter’s junior ranger books and head to the ranger station. And as I walk up I see her waiting outside for her turn with a ranger. And as soon as we meet up with Becky, it’s our turn.
I hand the junior ranger booklets to Becky who shows them to the ranger. She checks off the pages and asks our daughter to raise her hand for the junior ranger pledge. After the swearing-in, she receives her Olympic National Park junior ranger badge. She also receives an Ocean Steward patch for filling out a separate booklet. Both are really nice, and we are lucky since the ranger closes the station for the day after we leave. We are glad she completed her junior ranger activities, but the real reason we came here was to hike. And just past the ranger station is the sign for Marymere Falls.
Hike to Marymere Falls
The sign for Marymere Falls says 1.5 miles round trip, with another sign attached below that says Mount Storm King. Both trails start here, though 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 hike to Marymere Falls is considered easy.
We start through the woods on a nice wide and maintained trail by the lake. But once close to the lake, we turn to find a tunnel. The trail actually goes underneath Highway 101 to the other side where it gets even wider. This is a very nice walk through the woods with no elevation at this point. Though we see a hornet’s nest easily from the trail, so we keep walking. And it only takes us 15 minutes to get to the turn off for Mount Storm King.
On the other side we start to see Barnes Creek and a few minutes later we see another sign. It says Barnes Creek Trail straight or Marymere Falls to the right, so we turn to find a bridge. From here we get a good view of the shallow Barnes Creek.
And on the other side, the trail becomes much narrower until we make it to a 2nd much smaller bridge. Here Drew and Matt decide to check out the creek below while we look back at the 1st bridge behind us.
And just past the 2nd bridge, steps take us up to another sign that just says Falls Loop pointing left. It takes us less than 30 minutes to get to the falls.
Marymere Falls Loop
The falls loop is a narrower trail with guard rails and multiple steps up to a viewing platform. And here we can see the falls through the trees before we reach it. And though this trail is relatively flat at the beginning, it gets more difficult on this loop.
However, it’s just a couple minutes to the 1st viewing platform at the base of this 90 foot waterfall. And it’s so different than Sol Duc Falls we saw yesterday. Not only is this waterfall almost twice as high, but it’s a single cascade into the gorge below. The aptly named Falls Creek tumbles over Marymere Falls hitting rocks until pooling at the bottom. The water eventually makes it to Barnes Creek we passed on the way and out to Lake Crescent.
After admiring the falls, we notice the Falls loop continues up from this viewing platform. If you want to avoid more climbing, I suggest going back from the platform to the start of the loop. But we adventurous ones, ascend up to another viewpoint.
After climbing the initial stairs we can look back down at the viewing platform and at the falls. One good thing about going up is we leave most of the people below us. Though the views up here are about the same, just higher. Once at the top, we start to descend back to the start of the loop. It takes us about 15 minutes to do the loop around the falls including our time taking pictures.
Hiking back
From the falls loop, we start back crossing over the 2 bridges back to the flatter part of the trail. On the hike back, the boys head out ahead of us and I spot a chipmunk darting around. We continue past the turnoffs for the Barnes Creek and Mount Storm King trails and some ancient large trees.
And when we finish the trail, we exit into the field in front of the Storm King Ranger Station. Here we see a couple deer grazing and a good way to end this hike. By the time we get back to the car it’s almost 6:00PM, and it’s time to head back to the lodge. Though we have plenty of time and we’re able to change into some nice clothes for dinner.
Lake Crescent Lodge Dining Room
To end the night, we have planned a dinner at the lodge for Grandma’s birthday. It’s expensive, but it’s a special occasion and I wanted to end our last night of our trip here. So we find Grandma relaxing by the lake, and check-in with the hostess. After we are seated, we check out the menus.
When our server comes, we order drinks and she tells us about their specials tonight. Their menu only has 4 starters, a couple soups and salads, and 6 entrees so glad to hear their specials. And we decide to order their special seafood dip appetizer with Dungeness crab, 2 kinds of salmon and cream cheese. Grandma also orders their Olympic Clam Chowder to start.
After ordering, I head outside to the beach to get some views of the lake. And when I get back our appetizers are coming out. Grandma’s clam chowder is very good, but the seafood dip is dry. We were expecting creamy, and Grandma doesn’t want any after trying it. But I’m hungry and not letting it go to waste, so I eat most with Matt’s help. We also order our entrees. Grandma orders the fish and chips, Drew and Becky order the ribeye and Matt orders the beyond Salisbury steak. The kids menu actually has 6 options and our daughter orders the cheeseburger with fruit and a side of pickles.
I order the scallop pasta special which sounds interesting, and it is excellent. Matt inhales his food, but Grandma only eats 1 piece of fish and tries to give us the rest. Everyone else enjoys their food, though I think I’m the winner with my dish.
Lake Crescent Lodge Dessert and Sunset
Our server cleans the table and tells us their desserts tonight. There are many options and hard to choose without a menu. But we pick three desserts to share. Drew wants the lavender sponge cake, and I order some marionberry cobbler. We also order a huckleberry ice cream sundae which comes with 2 macarons.
All three desserts are wonderful. Drew really enjoys the lavender cake and the cobbler is tasty. And the sundae comes with a chocolate and lemon macaron which our daughter enjoys. And after 2 hours, we pay the bill and head outside at the perfect time.
Though it’s been cloudy all afternoon, the Sun reflecting off the clouds is spectacular. And most of the crowds have left, except a few people on the beach and dock admiring the sunset. We walk out to the beach to admire the yellow, orange and red colors over the mountains.
We also walk on the dock for a closer view. The sky has a warm glow even though it’s starting to get a little chilly. And it slowly fades away until night. It’s almost 9:00PM, so we head to our car to drive back to Forks.
Lake Crescent Summary
Even though we started late, we spent about 7 hours around Lake Crescent today. And though we didn’t make it to Devil’s Punchbowl, we did do the 3 things we wanted to do here. We kayaked, hiked and ate dinner at the lodge. And despite it being overcast, It was a great day.
I was really glad we made the time to kayak on the lake, even if only for an hour. There is just something different about being on the water, especially here. But we also enjoyed Lake Crescent from the shore. And our daughter got her junior ranger badge at the Storm King Ranger Station. Not to mention hiking to Marymere Falls was an easy hike that we enjoyed. Though dinner at the lodge was a special treat for all of us. And the cherry on top was the sunset over the lake. Hopefully it’s a birthday Grandma will never forget!
We’ll leave you with one more sunset over Lake Crescent on our last night in Olympic National Park. Be sure to check out all our adventures in Olympic!