Featured In: Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula, by Craig Romano.
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Hike to a beautiful alpine lake flanked by some of the highest, craggiest snow- and ice-covered peaks in the Olympic Mountains. The trip is long, but much of the way is gentle, through primeval forests and along a crashing, milky creek fed by glaciers high above. Though Royal Lake is popular with backpackers, by day hiking you'll leave less of an impact on both the fragile alpine environment and your body (with less pack weight!). If you're not up for the whole trek, any distance along this de-lightful trail will satisfy your wilderness urges.

From a large trailhead parking area resembling a hiker's Grand Central Station, start on the Dungeness River Trail on a gentle grade through ancient groves of towering fir. In 1 mile (elev. 2700 ft) head right at a junction signed "Royal Basin."(The trail left leads up the Dungeness. In another 0.25 mile pass the trail to Baldy taking off on your right. Shortly afterward enter Olympic National Park.

Through thick forest carpeted in moss and landscaped with rhododendrons, the trail heads gracefully up the Royal Creek valley. Not always within sight, but always close by, the creek crashes and churns through the deep narrow vale. You'll need to hop over several tributaries in the first couple of miles, but none pose any problems.

In about 2.7 miles cross the first of several brushy avalanche chutes. As nettles zap some smarts into you, look up at the fortress of towering peaks flanking the valley. At 5 miles the way steepens. The trail ascends rocky and open slopes, granting impressive views both up and down the U-shaped valley while a royal carpet of wildflowers rolls out beneath you.

Climb above a yellow cedar-graced headwall with Royal Creek furiously cascading over it. Now following along a much gentler creek, the grade eases as the trail enters the hanging valley housing Royal Lake. With 7000-foot giants, Mounts Clark and Walkinshaw, casting their shadows upon you, traverse willow flats and a lovely meadow basin, passing a backcountry camping area (elev. 4700 ft) at 6.3 miles.

Royal Creek is soon crossed on a sturdy log bridge. One short climb is your last hurdle before arriving at regal Royal Lake (elev. 5100 ft) in 7 well-earned miles. Majestic peaks hold court above the quiet body of water. In early summer the shoreline is adorned in purple regalia, thanks to thousands of blossoming shooting stars. A short trail goes around the lake. Wander it, sharing splendid shoreline lunch spots with deer, chipmunks, and marmots.