Boulder Lake

Description:

• The trail to Boulder Lake follows the abandoned Boulder Creek Road past Boulder Creek Campground and along the North Fork Boulder Creek. The destination of this trail, Boulder Lake, is the source of North Fork Boulder Creek. The trail is 12 miles round trip. It can be combined with the Happy Lake Trail to form a long backpacking trek.

  Begin this hike on the Elwha River Road along Boulder Creek. At roads end leave your car and begin hiking westward along the closed road. The road continues for almost two and a half miles to a parking area. Walk west from the parking area on the northern side of Boulder Creek. Pass the spur trail for Olympic Hot Springs and Boulder Creek Campground and continue westward.

  Less than a mile from the campground the trail forks. The left side of the fork leads to Appleton Pass. Follow the right side of the fork to reach Boulder Lake. From this point the trail ascends along the western base of Happy Lake Ridge. The track veers away from the North Fork Boulder Creek for more than a mile before reaching the river side again.

  The route follows the creek closely for the next mile. The the stream turns westward and the trail continues to ascend steadily northwestward. Almost six miles from the trailhead the track reaches Boulder Lake Camp. At the camp you'll notice a use trail leading southward to Boulder Lake. This trail leads less than a half mile to the lake.