OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A clear day on the High Divide provides unobstructed views of Mount Olympus and Seven Lakes Basin.
The 7,980-foot peak and array of alpine lakes lift the spirits on the 19-mile loop hike from Sol Duc Falls.
High Divide is a 5,200-foot ridge that separates the upper Sol Duc, Bogachiel and Hoh River drainages in the heart of the Olympic Mountains.
The popular backpacking trail in Olympic National Park runs through old-growth forests and several lakes, and it skirts the summit of 5,478-foot Bogachiel Peak at the headwaters of the Bogachiel River.
The rugged north face of Mount Olympus and its Blue Glacier loom 6 miles south of High Divide. Mosquitoes and flies were fierce on a Saturday hike, so pack plenty of insect repellent.
While Mount Olympus is the tallest peak on the Olympic Peninsula, it often is obscured by surrounding terrain.
High Divide is one of the better places to see the full prominence of the heavily-glaciated mountain.
Mount Olympus as seen from the 19-mile High Divide trail on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020. (Rob Ollikainen/Peninsula Daily News)
The counterclockwise circuit on the High Divide/Seven Lakes Basin loop begins near 1,900-foot Sol Duc Falls and climbs 2.9 miles up Canyon Creek to 3,720-foot Deer Lake.
A large black bear was seen foraging for berries at the outflow of Deer Lake on Saturday, thanks to another hiker who pointed out the animal.
The trail climbs 3.3 miles from Deer Lake to High Divide and the first views of the Hoh and Bogachiel basins of the West End.
A short section of the trail at the Lunch Lake junction was damaged in a recent landslide, requiring a boulder scramble. Lunch Lake is 0.8 miles off the main trail.
The High Divide trail continues along the south side of the ridge to Bogachiel Peak and impressive views of Mount Olympus.
Hikers cool off in Heart Lake on the High Divide/Seven Lakes Basin loop from Sol Duc Falls. (Rob Ollikainen/Peninsula Daily News)
A short detour leads to the summit of Bogachiel Peak, the tallest point of the High Divide. Another trail leads down to 4,550-foot Hoh Lake and the Hoh River valley below.
The High Divide trail continues another 2 miles along the ridge above Seven Lakes Basin before descending to 4,777-foot Heart Lake, where several hikers had stopped to cool off Saturday.
The trail leaves the alpine meadows at Heart Lake and descends 3.5 miles into the Sol Duc basin, passing several campsites and crossing the river on a tall footbridge.
The final 5 miles track the Sol Duc River through an old-growth forest to the Sol Duc Falls trailhead.
Permits are required to camp at Seven Lakes Basin. Reservations are recommended through Sept. 30.
Small fires sparked by lightning in the Olympic Mountains the day after this hike are not expected to impact the trail this weekend, said Penny Wagner, public information officer, on Thursday.
Mount Olympus, at 7,980 feet, is the tallest peak on the Olympic Peninsula. (Rob Ollikainen/Peninsula Daily News)
The closest fire is 8 1/2 miles to the east, she said, while the next closest blaze is more than 10 miles to the west.
“We don’t expect impacts from smoke,” Wagner said.
Rain is forecast for the next few days, but the expected arrival of warmer, drier weather later next week could change that.
Hikers should refer to the park website at www.nps.gov/olym for updates or alerts and current trail condition information, as well as details about backpacking or camping in Olympic National Park.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
