You are here: Home » Find a Hike » Hiking Guide » Lake Angeles

Lake Angeles

Last modified Feb 12, 2010 01:00 PM
Lake Angeles. Photo by GsxrJake03
Known for its craggy peaks, wilderness coast, and deep lush forests, Olympic National Park contains quite an array of spectacular natural features. But when it comes to alpine lakes, the park seems lacking. Sure, scores of aquatic gems sparkle in the backcountry, but compared to the Cascades, the Olympics come up short. Lake-loving day hikers need not shy away, however, for there are a handful of attainable alpine gems. Lake Angeles is one of them. It's also one of the largest lakes in the Olympics, and the most popular.

From high above on Klahhane Ridge, 20-acre Lake Angeles looks like a teardrop. Occupying a glacial cirque, the lake is ringed on three sides by steep rocky walls. Through most of the summer, tumbling creeks of snowmelt feed the isolated body of water. A small island formed by rockfall and adorned with subalpine firs sits in the middle of the emerald lake.

Beautifully set, Lake Angeles is well-loved by hikers from near and far. The boot-beaten path to its shores attests to this. But this is not an easy hike-the trail gains over 2300 feet in 3.5 miles. Well-shaded, however, you shouldn't have any trouble overheating while grunting to your objective.

The well-worn path immediately sets out climbing, paralleling Ennis Creek, before making a sharp turn east and heading over to another creek drainage. The trail then makes a sharp turn back west, crosses the creek, and begins to climb straight up a rib, the divide between Ennis and Lake Creeks. Never easing up, the trail works its way into the deep cirque housing the lake.

At 3.7 miles a sign indicates the lake is near. Turn left down a short spur and behold, Lake Angeles. Cool air rushes down the bare slopes above, rippling the lake surface. Sunlight twinkles off of the small waves. It's a soothing scene, but you won't be alone here. You've earned the right to find a nice spot, however, to enjoy this Olympic aquatic gem.
Improve or add to this guidebook entry

Recent Trip Reports

Hiked here recently? Submit a trip report!
There are 13 trip reports for this hike. See all trip reports for this hike.
Lake Angeles, Klahhane Ridge — May 31, 2009 — gsxrjake03
Day hike
Features: Wildflowers blooming
Issues: Mud/Rockslide | Snow on trail
Expand report text Hide report text
Started at Heart o Hills parking lot. Headed out on Lake angeles Trail which was clear sailing with only a...
Started at Heart o Hills parking lot. Headed out on Lake angeles Trail which was clear sailing with only a few lil muddy spots. Bugs left us alone..
Didnt hit melting snow till actually reaching the lake where it was still lightly covered by Ice. From there we wanted to get a better view so we headed up the Klahhane Ridge trail. after a short scramble we reached a look out rock where it was a breathless view. We enjoyed our lunch and took plenty of photos.....
Read full report with photos
Lake Angeles #80 — Nov 17, 2007 — Hoosierdaddy
Day hike
Issues: Blowdowns
Expand report text Hide report text
We went up the Lake Angeles trail because the gate was closed to Hurricane Ridge. About a mile up the...

We went up the Lake Angeles trail because the gate was closed to Hurricane Ridge.

About a mile up the trail at the 2nd footbridge crossing (At Ennis Creek) there is the mother of all gigantic windfalls blocking the trail! The windstorm of November 10th wiped out a very large section of forest here. The trail is completely obliterated by hundreds of fallen trees strewn about like matchsticks. The mass of tangled trees is virtually impenetrable to anyone who doesn't possess very, very good off-trail scrambling skills! We had to climb up on top of huge logs before walking along their slippery surfaces more than 10 feet above menacing pointy branches below us, jump over to parallel and perpendicular logs, swing from branch to branch before jumping off and crawling on hands & knees in the thick debris under logs and try to figure out where the trail was located on the other side of this unholy conglomeration. The whole mass is about 50 yards in width. We found the ""best"" route around it seemed to be uphill and above the deepest, thickest part of the tangle and it still took us 20 minutes of extremely difficult travel to negotiate the 50 yards.

Seriously, don't try to get through this thing unless you are an accomplished off-trail traveler!

Once through this mess, there is another much smaller tangle about 100 yards farther up the trail that is best bypassed by going downhill, around the fallen trees for 50 feet before re-joining the trail.

There are only a very few, easily negotiated trees laying across the trail after this point on the way to the lake.

Patchy, 2"" deep snow at the lake and no ice formed yet.

*Note: We reported the windfall the NPS and they already were aware of the problem.

Read full report
Lake Angeles #80 — Apr 02, 2007 — Party of 2
Day hike
Issues: Blowdowns | Snow on trail
Expand report text Hide report text
A dusting of snow on the trail from Sunday night and a few more flurries during the hike. Didn't feel...

A dusting of snow on the trail from Sunday night and a few more flurries during the hike. Didn't feel much like spring. A lot of blowdown has been cleared away in the first mile, then at a little over a mile there is a large tree accross the trail and another tangle of blowdown a little further on, past the creek crossing. The second mess has obscured the trail, but both places are passable. Some packed snow and ice begins to show up on the trail at about 3900 feet, and the depth of snow at the lake varies between about one and three feet. None of it is a problem to walk on.

Read full report
Lake Angeles #80,Klahhane Ridge — Jul 28, 2006 — pest
Day hike
Expand report text Hide report text
Hiked to the vistor center from Heart-o-the Hills campground via the Lake Angeles and Klahhane Ridge trail. Trail is clear...

Hiked to the vistor center from Heart-o-the Hills campground via the Lake Angeles and Klahhane Ridge trail. Trail is clear with no blow-downs, snow or mud. Nice hike with beautiful meadows full of flowers before you reach the 6000 foot high point and drop over the ridge.

Read full report
Lake Angeles #80,Heather Park #79,Klahhane Ridge — Jul 26, 2006 — tenderfeet
Day hike
Expand report text Hide report text
The Lake Angeles trail is clear all the way to the junction with the Heahter Park trail, which is clear...

The Lake Angeles trail is clear all the way to the junction with the Heahter Park trail, which is clear all the way back to the trailhead. The route from the junction to Hurricane Ridge visitor center is clear and full of beautiful flowers, deer, snowshoe hare, mountain goats, views, etc.

Read full report
Location
Lake Angeles (#80)
Olympics -- North
Olympic National Park
3.00 out of 5
Based on 5 votes
Featured In...

Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula
by Craig Romano

To buy the full book, including maps, elevation profiles, photos, and more, visit:

A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails.

Information about this hike provided in partnership with Mountaineers Books. Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books

Roundtrip 7.4 miles
Elevation Gain 2350 ft
Highest Point 4196 ft
Features
Lakes
Guidebooks & Maps
Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula (Romano - Mountaineers Books)
Green Trails Port Angeles No. 103
Custom Correct Hurricane Ridge

Improve or add to this guidebook entry

Driving Directions
(48.0391, -123.4319) Open in new window
Red Marker Lake Angeles
48.0390833333 -123.431933333
From Port Angeles leave US 101 near milepost 249, following Race Street south 1.2 miles to Hurricane Ridge Road (Heart o' the Hills Parkway) and passing the Olympic National Park Visitors Center and Wilderness Information Center. Proceed on Hurricane Ridge Road for 5 miles. Just before the park entrance booth, turn right (west) to reach a large trailhead parking area.
Document Actions
  • Email this page
  • Print this
  • Share
Email Newsletter
Monthly trail news, hiking trips and advocacy.
Log in


Forgot your login name or password?
New user?
Sales Support WTA!
Footer

 

 
powered by Plone | site by Groundwire and served with clean energy