Lunch Lake - 15.6 Miles Round-Trip

Lunch Lake (4,495') is located 7.6 miles from the Sol Duc Trailhead in Olympic National Park. It's one of many accessible highlights in the Seven Lakes Basin, an airy network of alpine lakes, tarns and meadows circled by the High Divide Loop.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

While possible in a day, Lunch Lake is more often the first stop for backpackers on multiday trips on the Loop.

Established routes lead from Lunch Lake to other lakes in the basin, and the High Divide Trail continues above with access to Bogachiel Peak, Hoh Lake, Heart Lake and cross-country routes in the Bailey Range.

Lunch Lake holds a majority of campsites in the Seven Lakes Basin, and reservations are required. Visit the WIC for permits and the latest trail information before setting out.

Note that lingering snow on steep, narrow sections may be tricky (if not technical) well into summer, particularly leading up to the Lunch Lake Trail split, and on the final descent to the lake. Ice axe and self-arrest skills are necessary with persistent snow cover. Visit the WIC or Olympic NPS site for the latest trail conditions:

Follow signs from the trailhead to Sol Duc Falls. The trail runs quickly beneath impressive old growth to a bridge across Sol Duc Falls (.8 miles : 1,927'), a four prong fall that plunges into a deep gorge on the Sol Duc River.

It remains level to the Deer Lake - Lovers Lane Trail split (.9 miles), where the Deer Lake Trail splits south and begins a steep, rugged climb with little reprieve all the way to Deer Lake (3.4 miles : 3,527').

Deer Lake occupies a wooded basin in the transition zone from montane to subalpine forest. The trail leads around its east shore to a split for Little Divide and High Divide (3.8 miles : 3,526').

Follow the High Divide sign left to a marshy pond and resume steady climbing in a thick transitional forest. The trail emerges from timber at a pond (4.9 miles : 4,115'), and weaves by another into an expanding landscape laced with streams and wildflowers.

Grades moderate across high open slopes with good views. The trail levels through patches of fir on a ridge, then rolls over to the south side overlooking the upper Bogachiel River Valley (6.15 miles : 4,755').

It curls east and rises up a narrow path etched into steep, vertiginous slopes (6.5 miles : 4,750'). Proper gear and self-arrest skills are necessary on this section when covered by snow. The trail negotiates a rocky bowl to the Lunch Lake Trail split (7.05 miles : 4,862'), and arcs around it to a crest (4,894') overlooking the Round Lake - Lunch Lake basin. This is the highest point on the route to Lunch Lake.

Here you'll begin a knee-jarring descent on stone steps with a commanding views over Round, Clear, Lunch and several more distant lakes in the basin.

The trail bottoms out on the valley floor at the Round Lake split (7.5 miles : 4,455'), and rises back to the open west side of Lunch Lake (7.6 miles : 4,495').

Tracks circle the lake, favoring thinly treed knolls on the NW side where most campsites are located. While sparingly signed, well-established trails emanate from Lunch Lake to others in the Seven Lakes Basin. A good map with basic route finding skills will help you explore this beautiful area.