Seven Lakes Basin

Seven Lakes Basin is a basin in Olympic National Park. The trail to the basin is 19 miles round trip with about 4000 feet of elevation gain. The trail starts by following the Sol Duc River and eventually heads south and begins a rapid elevation gain. The trail winds out of the rain forest and eventually ends at the High Divide, where there are views of Mt. Olympus to the south and the Sol Duc valley to the north. To the east lie glacial fields. Despite the name, Seven Lakes Basin, there is actually eight small lakes in the area. The lakes are Soleduck, Long, Lunch, Morgenroth, No Name, Clear, Round, and Lake No. 8. The biggest of these lakes is Soleduck and the smallest is Morgenroth. Other lakes are encountered along the way which are not considered part of Seven Lakes Basin. These lakes are Heart Lake and Deer Lake. Heart Lake gets its name from its very distinct heart like shape. Bears and Elk are common in this area, especially when the blueberries are in full bloom.

Driving Directions

From Highway 101 take Sol Duc Hot Springs Road to end, park at end of road past Hot Springs Resort. There are two ways to get to the Basin. You can either go left before the Sol Duc Falls, or pass them and follow the trail that way. If you cross the Falls you will hike up past Deer Lake and up the Low Divide, then onto the High Divide, which overlooks the Seven Lakes Basin. If you take the trail before the Sol Duc Falls, you will hike past Heart Lake to get to the Basin.