Four Itchy Feet

July 12, 2025. Brinnon, Washington. Day 52 of 170

Today was our last hike at Olympic National Forest. We chose to hike Lena Lake, a 7.2-mile round trip with a 1,300-foot elevation change. By the numbers, it’s a moderate to difficult hike, but the trail is well-maintained with a number of switchbacks that make the ascent very gentle. Although you’re climbing almost continuously, the flat terrain under your feet gives you the feeling of walking in the forest. I’m not an athlete, but I never saw my heart rate go over 120 throughout the entire hike, so everyone can visit and see Lena Lake.

Lena Lake is easily accessible from Highway 101. At milepost 318, you’ll find Hamma Hamma River Road. Drive for 7.2 miles, and you’ll reach the trailhead parking. There’s plenty of parking on both sides of the road. The trail is busy with both day hikers and backpackers making their way for an overnight stay at Lena Lake Campsite.

As soon as we arrived at the lake, we found our very own private beach and immediately cooled off in the crystal-clear waters. The boys found a log near the shore and immediately made it their dugout canoe. They paddled around the lake for a couple of hours, often falling off their makeshift boat. I found some shade for a short nap while Barbara sunbathed. It was just an incredible experience with perfect weather. We saw a number of families come in, dip their toes, perhaps even take a short dip in the cold waters of the lake. Ducks came by often, begging for scraps, but quickly realized there was no food for them.

Lena Lake felt magical, an out-of-this-world experience. There was so much beauty we could engage with on this hike that we have to rank it our best. The Olympic Peninsula’s natural beauty cannot be overstated. There’s so much to do here that our one-week visit seems to have only scratched the surface. We vow to return and encourage you to go a little further west on your travel adventures to Olympic; you will not regret it.