Happy Lake Ridge

Happy Lake Ridge Trailhead, Olympic Nat’l Park a well-made pullout, hidden in glare of famous neighbor

Trails Thulefoth Comments
Pullout trailhead for Happy Lake Ridge Trail

Pullout trailhead for Happy Lake Ridge Trail

Happy Lake Ridge Trailhead is a roomy pullout along the upper Olympic Hot Springs Road.  It’s a shy mile beyond the Observation Point lookout, and a couple miles before the end of the road at Boulder Creek Trailhead.  It is at 1,700′, up the northern side of Boulder Creek canyon some 650′. Traffic is usually light; the main useage being folks using the trailhead at the end.  A good spot to stop and look around, without being committed to the almost 3,000′ climb of Happy Lake Ridge Trail. … cont’d >

Observation Point, Olympic Hotsprings Road, Olympic Nat’l Park old feature of old road - with a new future?

Elwha River / Olympic Nat'l Park / Roads Thulefoth Comments
Obvervation Point rock-cut, Olympic Hotsprings Road

Obvervation Point rock-cut, Olympic Hotsprings Road

Observation Point is a small developed lookout above the now-drained of Lake Mills reservoir of the Elwha River, along the Olympic Hot Springs Road on a jutting shoulder of Happy Lake Ridge.  The road then turns and heads into the Boulder Creek canyon.  In former times, the hillside below the little lookout parking lot was cleared of trees growing up and blocking the view.  But more recently, it has become evident that this clearing is no longer being done.  With the new valley below – the Elwha Restoration Project – will Olympic National Park again remove trees to restore this viewscape? … cont’d >