The path leaves the Hamma Hamma road and climbs 1,200 feet through a mix of old-growth and second-growth forest to Lower Lena Lake (3 miles, one-way). The Lena Lake area has a great mix of environments to explore, and enough versatility that it can be a fantastic family hiking destination or a route for hard-core backpackers. It offers something for everyone.
- Distance: 6 + miles, round-trip (out-and-back)
- Elevation:
- High point – 2,100 feet
- Elevation change – 1,600 feet
- Best Season: May-July
The trail starts in the Olympic National Forest as most of the area trails do. If you push on past Lower Lena Lake, you’ll enter the Olympic National Park whether heading toward Upper Lena Lake or north into the Valley of Silent Men on the climbing route approach to The Brothers.
It’s an easy stroll. It’s an easy, scenic stroll. It’s a crowded, easy, scenic stroll. The trail climbs gradually through deep, old second-growth forest. For nearly 3 miles, you’ll enjoy stunning old NW forests, with large swathes of native rhododendron bushes – late spring brings these massive evergreens into full bloom, with a mix of white and pink flowers scenting the route. In the early section, you’ll cross several small feeder streams but nothing that should impede your travel.
The trail climbs 1,600 feet through a mix of old- and second-growth forest to a junction with the Upper Lena Lake Trail (see hike below) at 2.8 miles. It then drops another quarter mile down to Lena Lake, which offers good fishing for eastern brook and rainbow trout as the water warms. The trail ends along the northwest shore of Lower Lena at a junction with the Brothers Trail.
If stopping at Lower Lena Lake, take note that since the mid-1900s, massive revegetation projects have helped restore the natural growth along the shores of Lower Lena. Both day hikers and backpackers are asked to heed the No Camping signs and stay in one of the 29 designated campsites or established day-use areas. Backcountry rules are strictly enforced. Yes, rangers do write tickets for out-of-bounds camping and off-trail tramping along the lakeshore.
To extend your day hike, the best bet is to push north into the Valley of Silent Men. This path leads to the climbing route up the massive stone peaks of The Brothers. The Valley of Silent Men is a steep, narrow valley pierced by rugged East Fork of Lena Creek. The Valley of Silent Men features towering old-growth hemlocks and Douglas firs, with thick blankets of moss and fern carpeting the forest floor. The trail climbs 1.5 miles from the north end of Lower Lena Lake, climbing 1,300 feet, to a climbers’ base camp at 3,100 feet.
For backpacking adventures, you might consider heading south away from Lower Lena for a steep climb of 4 miles – gaining another 2,800 vertical feet – to the alpine basin of Upper Lena Lake. Note that this is within the Olympic National Park, so no dogs allowed, and permits are required.
Map Data: Lower Lena Lake Trail (.kml & .gpx track logs)
Directions
To get there, from Hoodsport drive 13 miles north on U.S. Highway 101 to a junction with Hamma Hamma Road (Forest Road 25). Turn left (west) onto Hamma Hamma Road and continue west 8 miles to the Lena Lake trailhead parking area on either side of the road. The trail is on the right (north) side of the road.
