Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park - Washington Road Trip

Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park - Washington Road Trip

There is so much to see and do in Olympic National Park that I feel like we could have spent an entire week just here. But since we only had a week for the entire trip, we tried to hit the highlights! Lake Crescent proved to be not only a highlight; it was one of our favorite places that we visited.

We really wanted to stay in a national park lodge, but, unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in getting a room at the Lake Crescent Lodge. They have the most adorable cabins that look out over the lake, and I was so excited to stay in one, but we waited too long and it was already booked. So, let this be a cautionary tale for you. If you want to stay in one of these adorable national park lodges, book early!

Even though we did not stay at the lodge, we really enjoyed exploring the area. As you walk around the property and through the lodge, you feel like you have stepped back in time. The historic lodge still exudes the charisma from when it was built in 1915. The lodge is nestled on the southern edge of Lake Crescent with breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains. 

The lodge also has a delicious restaurant that offers stunning views of the lake while you dine on “farm to fork” fare. I had the most sumptuous bean soup and summer-berry salad. The boys loved the local Bedford’s Craft Soda selection.

There are also several inviting hiking trails for all levels of hikers near Lake Crescent Lodge. We chose the Marymere Falls Trail which is a beautiful walk through a dense forest with a 200-foot ascent, mostly up stairs, to a 90-foot waterfall. The hike is an out-and-back trail that is slightly less than 2 miles round-trip and takes most people about 45 minutes. 

In addition to hiking, Lake Crescent also offers many recreational opportunities for visitors including: 

Lake Crescent offers something for everyone, I think you would be hard-pressed to be disappointed by the charming stop on your Olympic National Park trip!