Lena Lakes, Olympic National Park – WS

With a second day to explore and our sights set on another day-long adventure, we set out sights on the 22k round-trip to explore Lena Lakes.

Lena Lakes directions

Accessed and starting from the Hamma Hamma FSR, the first 5km is a beautifully smooth and very runnable as the trail gently climbs up to Lower Lena Lake.

The switchbacks ascending the Lena Lakes trail

Winding through beautiful and wild forest of the National Park the trail crosses a number of creeks as it continues to climb.

Bridge to Lower Lena Lake

Lush green forest of the National Olympic Park

Lush green and wild forest of the National Olympic Park

Lower Lena Lake, Olympic National Park

From Lower Lena Lake the trail drastically changes from a smooth and well-manicured path into a much more rough and over-grown wild trail. This is where it really begins to climb and the elevation builds, which makes the going much slower. Following Lena creek the whole way up the mountain side, the trail gets increasingly green as you climb higher. With

The wild over-grown valley that leads to Upper Lena Lake

Lush green meadows on the climb to Upper Lena Lake

Climbing through the meadows of the Upper Lena Lake trail

Climbing through the green meadows of the Upper Lena Lake trail

After the hours bush whacking through the overgrown trail, you eventually emerge at the edge of Upper Lena Lake, with Mount Lena overlooking the valley.

Views of Mount Lena, which overlooks Upper Lena Lake

The tranquil Upper Lena Lake – looking west

Upper Lena Lake – looking east

After a swim in the cold waters of the lake and a serious amount of fly squatting we headed back down the valley through the meadows and wild forest. In general we could run back down for the majority of the trail and you really offers a great mix of all different types of terrain.