Washington hiking trails - Happy Lake Ridge Trail, Olympic Mountains, Clallam County

   
  I don't think it is as difficult as you say. The trail is well defined, and as a day hike last weekend it took less than 6 hours to do the loop from happy lake trailhead, around boulder lake, past the hot springs and back to my car. Says Steve

Nice backcountry trails in Washington are in abundance; one of them being Happy Lake Ridge Trail in Clallam County. Happy Lake Ridge Trail is a long tour away from Port Angeles, but it sure is a a splendid wilderness hiking trail. Every backcountry trail in Washington is different from the others. Outdoors
    people generally like this part of Washington. Hitting the wilderness hiking trails is always a cool thing to do, and Happy Lake Ridge Trail in Clallam County, Washington is the wilderness at its best. This is one of many great outdoors hiking trails in the surrounding vicinity.
This hiking and backpacking trail has a total elevation difference of 4,377 feet which is a higher than average number. Being 17.2 miles long; it's considered a longer walk. This trek should take you about 2.5 days, so make sure you've got all your overnight gear packed. Throughout the summer months at Happy Lake Ridge Trail temperatures are typically in the 70's. Once the sun is down it plunges down to the 50's. Highs during the winter are mostly in the 40's; overnight lows in the 30's for Happy Lake Ridge Trail. Happy Lake Ridge Trail is a one trailhead  
hiking and backpacking trail, so you're looking at an in and out hike. Keep in mind that this is a long backpacking trail, so make sure you bring plenty of supplies. This hiking trail is many miles long having an average number of uphill miles which makes this a very tough great outdoors hiking trail for advanced trekkers looking for a wonderful challenge. This vicinity does get very dry sometimes, so do check for current fire restrictions before you go if you plan to bring a stove or make a camp fire. Backcountry hiking here in Washington is something that is always fun to do. The high level of rainfall makes Happy Lake Ridge Trail a rather wet place; through the month of December you get the most rain around here while July is the month with the least amount of precipitation. The pretty hiking trails of the Olympic Mountains are an excellent way to explore these highlands. Different parts of Happy Lake Ridge Trail are at very different elevations which of course means you need to be prepared for different conditions on different parts of the trail. Please follow all local rules about fires and camping.

Briefly about the general area:
The beauty of mother nature reveals herself at Winslow Spring; of course Hell Creek flows through this region. All the outdoors enjoyable things in the Olympic Mountains will keep you coming back time and again. Nearby Appleton Pass is a good site to go if you're at Happy Lake Ridge Trail, and whitewater paddling is not for everybody but if it's for you then, we recommend Elwha River. Sol Duc Park is a good location to check out, and if you came to camp Altair Campgrounds is a splendid location to do that.
Not far from Happy Lake Ridge Trail you can enjoy the trees of Soleduck Ranger District; Olympic National Park is a magnificent spot close by. Yeah, come up here to the Olympic Mountains for a tremendous time. Saratoga Point is in the neighborhood and always pleasant to pop by, and a quick visit to Crystal Creek is positively a tremendous idea. The good people of Port Angeles like to hang out nearby.
That right there is a load already, but it keeps on going; Happy Lake Ridge Trail has it all. There's whitewater on Elwha River for all you adrenaline kick people. There's so much to do here at Happy Lake Ridge Trail that you need to camp here for a while, Indian Valley Motel and RV Park is a tremendous site for that. Places like Bear Valley are great to pop by, and Marymere Falls is an inspiring location to check out during your stay.

Location of Trailhead: Latitude 47.9832, Longitude -123.6255
- - Directions and Road Map

Total in and out hiking length = 17.2 miles

Total climbing distance = 7.3 miles

Difficulty : Difficult

Casual Hiking Pace: 2.5 days

Fast Hiking Pace: 1.5 days

Total elevation difference: 4377 feet


Quality Inn Uptown, Port Angeles
19 miles away
Below the mountains, above the harbor, Quality Inn is located on the bluff overlooking the Port Angeles Harbor, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island. Hotel is within close proximity of the ...
  
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, Port Angeles
20 miles away
Nestled 12 miles within the heart of the Olympic National Park, the weary traveler will discover the comforts of Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. Spending the day at Sol Duc can be a unique, relaxing, and ...
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Outdoors Recreation Near Port Angeles, Washington
Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Port Angeles, Washington, the metro area neareast to Happy Lake Ridge Trail. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.

Current weather conditions at Happy Lake Ridge Trail, Olympic Mountains, Clallam County, Washington
WXPort

Local climate location: ELWHA RANGER STATION 23 miles away

Days Inn Port Angeles, Port Angeles
20 miles away
The Days Inn Port Angeles is located in an area known for its year round breathtaking scenery and hiking trails. It is just 2 miles from the city center and the ferry terminal bound for Victoria, BC a...

Port Angeles Super 8 Motel, Port Angeles
21 miles away
When you choose Super 8 of Port Angeles for your accommodations, you choose the best place to stay on the Olympic Peninsula. Your room includes color cable TV w/HBO, Wireless Hi Speed Internet. Super...

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TOPO
High quality water resistant topo map of Happy Lake Ridge Trail, Olympic Mountains, Clallam County, Washington.

OUTDOORS_GUIDE
These outdoors activities are available near Happy Lake Ridge Trail.
 Trails Near Happy Lake Ridge Trail:
Boulder Lake Trail, Clallam County County , 1 miles away,  11.6 hiking miles, 2971 feet elevation difference
Soleduck Trail, Clallam County County , 7 miles away,  15.4 hiking miles, 3468 feet elevation difference
Hurricane Hill Trail, Clallam County County , 9 miles away, 5.9 hiking miles, 5674 feet elevation difference
Deer Lake Trail, Clallam County County , 9 miles away,  6.8 hiking miles, 1835 feet elevation difference
North Fork Soleduck River Trail, Clallam County County , 10 miles away,  15.8 hiking miles, 1478 feet elevation difference
Hoh River Trail, Clallam County County , 10 miles away,  31.2 hiking miles, 4310 feet elevation difference
Lovers Lane, Clallam County County , 10 miles away, 3.4 hiking miles, 475 feet elevation difference
 Camp Grounds Near Happy Lake Ridge Trail:
Indian Valley Motel and RV Park, Port Angeles, 4 miles away
Altair Campgrounds, Clallam County, 7 miles away
Crescent Beach and RV Park, Port Angeles, 8 miles away
Salt Creek Campground, Clallam County, 8 miles away
Log Cabin Resort and Trailer, Port Angeles, 8 miles away
 Whitewater Near Happy Lake Ridge Trail:
Elwha River, Clallam County County , 7 miles away, Class II-III(IV) - 4.5 miles long (Mills Reservoir to Highway 101)
Elwha River, Clallam County County , 10 miles away, Class V - 8.5 miles long (Grand Canyon)
Elwha River, Clallam County County , 11 miles away, Class II - 4.9 miles long (Aldwell Reservoir to river mouth)
Lyre River, Clallam County County , 11 miles away, Class IV-V - 3 miles long (to Lyre River Campground)
Quinault River - North Fork, Jefferson County County , 16 miles away, Class V - 3 miles long (Geoduck Creek to Kimta Creek)
 National Parks Near Happy Lake Ridge Trail:
Olympic National Park, Port Angeles - WA , 13 miles away
 Hotels Near Happy Lake Ridge Trail:
Quality Inn Uptown, Port Angeles , 19 miles away
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, Port Angeles , 20 miles away
Days Inn Port Angeles, Port Angeles , 20 miles away
Port Angeles Super 8 Motel, Port Angeles , 21 miles away
Lake Quinault Lodge, Quinault , 27 miles away
 Lakes Near Happy Lake Ridge Trail
Mud Lake, Clallam County , 3 miles away
Lake Sutherland, Clallam County , 4 miles away

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