Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent sits in a valley carved and deepened by Ice Age glaciers, which left a long, steep-sided basin. Geologists believe a large landslide later dammed the valley and split what had been one lake into two, Crescent and neighboring Lake Sutherland.

That split may explain one of the lake's quirks. Cut off from the sea and from easy mixing, its trout evolved in isolation. Lake Crescent is home to the Beardslee rainbow trout and the Crescenti cutthroat, distinctive fish found here and almost nowhere else, which is part of why the lake and its watershed are so carefully protected.

The easy classic is Marymere Falls, a gentle walk through big timber to a ninety-foot ribbon of water. For a harder day, Mount Storm King climbs sharply from near the lodge, with fixed ropes helping over the final rocky pitches to a heart-in-throat view straight down onto the lake.

On the quieter north shore, the Spruce Railroad Trail follows an old railroad grade past the Devil's Punchbowl, a small clear cove spanned by a footbridge, now part of a longer paved path around that side of the lake. Lake Crescent Lodge, on the south shore, dates to the early twentieth century and still takes guests, and President Franklin Roosevelt stayed here in 1937 while weighing the creation of Olympic National Park.

Lake Crescent carries one genuinely eerie story. In 1937 a local woman named Hallie Illingworth disappeared. Three years later a body surfaced in the lake, and the cold, mineral-rich, oxygen-poor deep water had partly turned the remains to a soap-like substance, a rare natural process, which helped preserve and identify her.

The case, and the nickname the Lady of the Lake, became part of peninsula lore, and her husband was eventually convicted. It is a somber story, but it says something true about the lake: it is deep, cold, and very still down where the light does not reach.

The forests around the lake are classic lowland Olympic woods of Douglas fir, hemlock, and cedar, home to black-tailed deer, black bears in the higher ground, and a chorus of forest birds. Bald eagles and osprey work the water.

Summer brings the clearest weather and the warmest, if still cool, water, while the shoulder seasons trade crowds for mist and moody light on the ridges. The area is open year round, though mountain trails like Storm King are best left for dry conditions.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Lake Crescent, in Olympic National Park on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, is a stunningly beautiful, deep glacial lake renowned for its remarkably clear, brilliant blue water, cradled amid forested mountains. One of the deepest lakes in the state, its exceptional clarity comes from very low levels of nitrogen that limit algae growth. Surrounded by old-growth forest and peaks, the lake offers swimming, kayaking, boating, fishing, and hiking, including the popular trail to Marymere Falls, along with the historic Lake Crescent Lodge on its shore. With its gorgeous clear waters, mountain setting, and recreation, Lake Crescent is a serene and beautiful destination in Olympic National Park.

You can kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and boat on the clear blue lake, swim, fish, hike trails including the popular walk to lovely Marymere Falls and the Spruce Railroad Trail with its Devil's Punchbowl swimming spot, relax or stay at the historic Lake Crescent Lodge, and enjoy the beautiful mountain and forest scenery. The clear water is wonderful for paddling and swimming. The lakeside trails offer easy, scenic walks. With its clear waters, paddling, swimming, trails, waterfall, and historic lodge amid gorgeous scenery, Lake Crescent offers a serene and rewarding outdoor experience in Olympic National Park on Washington's Olympic Peninsula.

Lake Crescent is famous for its exceptional clarity and brilliant blue color, which result from the water's remarkably low levels of nitrogen, a nutrient that would otherwise promote the growth of algae, so with little algae the water stays extraordinarily clear, allowing sunlight to penetrate deeply and giving the lake its stunning blue and green hues. Its great depth adds to the effect. This natural clarity makes Lake Crescent one of the most beautiful lakes in the region and wonderful for swimming, paddling, and simply admiring, as you can often see far down into the pristine, glassy water.

Summer through early fall is the prime time for swimming, paddling, and enjoying the lake in warm, dry weather, with the water most inviting in summer, though even then the deep lake is cool, while spring and fall offer beautiful scenery and fewer crowds for hiking and photography. Winter is wet and quiet, though the lake remains beautiful. The clear water and scenery are gorgeous year-round. For water recreation and the best weather, aim for summer through early fall, while the shoulder seasons offer lovely, quieter visits to Lake Crescent.

Lake Crescent is in Olympic National Park on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, near the town of Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge, the Sol Duc area with its hot springs and falls, and within reach of the Hoh Rain Forest and the wild Pacific beaches. That makes Lake Crescent a beautiful stop to combine with Hurricane Ridge, Sol Duc Falls, the Hoh Rain Forest, and the other diverse attractions of Olympic National Park on a visit to Washington.