High Divide - Seven Lakes Basin Loop — Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2025

What a gorgeous day in Olympic National Park. We hiked the loop as a day hike, as we couldn’t get backpacking permits last minute when we saw good weather here. We are very happy with the choice to day hike it rather than skip. The fall foliage was starting to come in with some reddening blueberry bushes that were a lovely pop of color. Berries absolutely everywhere. We hiked counter clockwise which was perfect, definitely best views. There was only a single time I was turning around to see the best views, that was short and we got to turn around and take it in at the summit of that ridge. This hike leaves you with hours and miles of time in the spot with the most beauty at the ridgeline and lakes basin. Despite reading the trip report before this, we also managed a wrong turn and unexpected outing to lunch lake which we did not regret. We felt it was beautiful and a different perspective than we saw later in the trail. We returned to the lakes basin again for lunch later on. All in all with detours, missed turns, and adventuring the hike was 21 miles, 5500ft elevation gain. Adding to my top hikes, I can’t wait to return.