Carrie Basin is an informal name for a Shangri La subalpine valley on the main Bailey Range ridge of the Olympic Mountains, and the Olympic National Park in which they’re enclosed. It’s a hanging-valley, jutting out from the ridge, a free-air waterfall launching from cliff-gated slot-canyon mouth, into a 1,000 foot unapproachable cataract-plunge.
There is Fairchild Creek, fed from the Carrie Glacier
Sourdough Mtn, Aurora Ridge, Olympic Park
Sourdough Mountain, as the name implies, hosted a mining camp that appears to be a moderately-serious old base-camp or prospect, on a line of recorded claims along a band of mineralization, ca 1930s. It consists of a fairly/partly level little sheltered meadow in the trees, on the ridge-top and tucked in against the west foot of the Sourdough rise; a short water-trail to an intermittent source out on the steep north slope, and a fairly long & impressive local trail up the peak. There used to be a small Adirondack-type shelter, but it slowly collapsed; there were also formerly visible remains of a box-latrine … and other artifacts which likely post-dated the mining-era (perhaps reflecting post-WWII horse-camping practices). It is just off the main Aurora Ridge Trail on its own very short side-trail, and the peak offers good & useful if relatively undramatic views into the North Fork Sol Duc River drainage, and of the north aspects of Mount Appleton and Boulder Peak, which bound the southern headwaters of the North Fork. … cont’d >
Lake Yahoo is a backcountry camp adrift in time. Once, the large pond-like lake nestled on an outlying ridge of the Olympic Mountains was a working stage-camp for the first Forest Service crews in the early 20th C., then CCC gangs during the Great Depression, and then explorers & workers in nearby Olympic National Park, after it was formed in 1938. This place is in the southwestern quadrant of the Olympic Peninsula, and just outside the SW corner of the Park. It’s in deep timber-country, in the Clearwater River watershed, at a headwater of major tributary Stequaleho Creek.
Major logging roads lead into the general vicinity of Yahoo, and minor roads come within a short hike.
Mount Mueller Trail is a US Forest Service project just outside Olympic National Park, near the west end of Lake Crescent along the main US Highway 101.
The trail is a loop from its Mount Mueller Trailhead. The main attraction is a high, sharp, forested ridge (with Mount Mueller itself about midway). The other side of the loop runs along the valley floor of the Sol Duc River, a few tenths of a mile back off the highway, through classic valley-floor rainforest . US 101 runs right down the Sol Duc valley for miles, almost to the town of Forks.
Lake Ozette is regarded as a premier destination of the Olympic National Park, both for the large, remote & isolated lake set in the coastal rainforest, and for the seashore trails that branch out from its visitor center. There is a conventional boat launch on the east shore, and docks by the Ranger Station and campground, at the far north end. Ozette is well off the mainstream roads, and takes roughly an extra hour to reach, along and finally at the terminus of deadend roads – undoubtedly part of the attraction. There have been reservation systems advertised in recent times, but they have not been in evidence lately. Do check with WIC Wilderness Information Center.
Happy Lake Ridge Trail, lower timber & salal
Happy Lake Ridge Trail is part of a complete loop-route, 17 miles long. It’s a 3,000′ climb from the Happy Lake Ridge Trailhead, topping out in about 3 miles, and then a subalpine walk along a very broad & mild, semi-open ridge-system; almost rolling plateau-like. There is standard camping at Happy Lake, which someone once called wet and buggy (weather-related?), but is set in a fine geology-exhibit & invitation to explore. The trail makes a tee with the Aurora Divide Trail at about 7.5 miles, and then reaches its end at Boulder Lake, at 9.5 miles. Then it’s downhill for the rest of the loop (partly on the low-key, antique road).
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 >
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 >
Aurora Ridge Trailhead is 2.5 miles up the Sol Duc Hot Springs Road, west of Lake Crescent in the Olympic National Park.