Lake Crescent

📍 Location: Olympic National Park, west of Port Angeles, Washington
🗓️ Best time to visit: June through September
⏳ Recommended stay: 2–3 hours
🌐 Official visitor information: NPS — Visiting Lake Crescent

💧 About Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent is a deep, glacially carved lake ringed by old-growth forest along US Highway 101. Its exceptionally clear, blue-green water reaches depths well over 600 feet.

The historic Lake Crescent Lodge and the Barnes Point shoreline sit near the lake's southeast corner, forming the main hub for boating, swimming, and short forest walks. The lake is also the gateway to Marymere Falls and the steep Mount Storm King ridge.

✨ Why Visit

Lake Crescent is especially known for:

• 💧 Strikingly clear, deep blue-green water
• 🌲 Old-growth forest along the shoreline
• 🛶 Kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding
• 🏊 Seasonal swimming from Barnes Point
• 🏛️ The historic Lake Crescent Lodge
• 🥾 Easy access to Marymere Falls
• 📸 Reflections and shoreline photography

🥾 Trails from the Lake

• Marymere Falls Trail — about 1.7 mi / 300 ft round trip, 1–1.5 hours, 🟢 easy to 🟡 moderate, through old growth to a 90-foot falls. Route reference: AllTrails — Marymere Falls
• Mount Storm King (optional) — about 4.1 mi / 2,100 ft round trip, 3.5–5 hours, 🔴 very strenuous, with steep rope-assisted sections. Route reference: AllTrails — Mount Storm King

❌ Do not attempt Mount Storm King in rain, high wind, ice, or poor visibility. The upper ropes are on exposed, eroding terrain.

📅 Best Time to Visit

☀️ June–September — Warm and Green

Summer offers the warmest water, greenest forest, and best conditions for paddling and swimming.

🍂 October–May — Quiet and Wet

Cooler months bring fewer visitors, higher water flow at Marymere Falls, and frequent rain. Trails can be muddy and slick.

🚗 Access and Parking

The Storm King Ranger Station near Lake Crescent Lodge is the main trailhead hub and the start for both Marymere Falls and Mount Storm King. Parking fills on summer weekends.

🎟️ Fees and Reservations

Lake Crescent is inside Olympic National Park; a valid park entrance pass is required. Lodging and boat rentals are booked separately through the concessioner.

⚠️ Safety

• The lake is very deep and cold year-round — swim near shore and know your limits
• Wear sturdy shoes on the rooty, uneven Marymere Falls trail
• Treat Mount Storm King as a serious scramble, not a casual hike
• Carry water and a light rain layer

✅ Before You Go

Check current information before visiting:

• 💧 NPS — Visiting Lake Crescent
• 🥾 Olympic trail conditions
• 🚧 Olympic road conditions
• 🥾 AllTrails — Marymere Falls · AllTrails — Mount Storm King