Four Itchy Feet

July 8, 2025. Brinnon, Washington. Day 48 of 170

On our second day at Olympic National Park, we had to take care of those inevitable travel mishaps. After 6,700 miles of trouble-free trekking, we unfortunately took two flying rocks to our car windows yesterday on the way back to the Airbnb. Not one to procrastinate, I immediately called the insurance company. We quickly had a claim and an appointment to get it fixed. With no deductible and no out-of-pocket expenses, my gratitude goes to Geico and Safelite for working together so efficiently to keep our travel on schedule.

With the car sorted, we moved on to our Olympic adventures. Today, we focused on the northwest area of the park: Lake Crescent. I can’t say enough about the beauty of the entire park, but this particular corner has a very special charm since Lake Crescent is nestled in a thick, primordial rainforest.

Our first order of business was to hike to Marymere Falls. This area of the park is crowded, so we suggest an early arrival. From the parking lot at the lake, the trail takes you under the road via a short tunnel. On the other side, you’re immediately swallowed by the forest. There are trees everywhere, hundreds of years old. The trail is easy until you reach the fall loop; a bit of effort brings you up to two beautiful vantage points to appreciate the falls.

After the falls, we took a different trail back to the lake, but this time not to the parking lot. We trekked under the road, this time under a bridge, to the Lake Crescent Lodge and Cabins. The lodge has a reasonably priced restaurant, bar, and gift shop. Bathrooms are available to visitors, along with information on the area. You can simply sit on the porch to enjoy a cup of coffee overlooking the beach, or rent a kayak to explore the lake. We decided to go for a swim off the dock. The water was cold but refreshing after a hike and simply crystal clear. After laying on the beach for a while, we decided to head back.

Lake Crescent deserves a much longer stay. There’s so much to do in the area, and the peace and tranquility the lake offers is seldom found anywhere else. Although it’s well-visited, the lake is large enough that you can stake your claim to peace and quiet, either on the shore or on the trails. Do not miss this part of Olympic National Park.