Hoh River Trail to Blue Glacier — Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018

Got permits on Sunday at Hoodsport around noon. I hoped to get permits in the quota areas for 2 nights, but only got one for Elk Lake on Tuesday (campsite was actually empty) Many people successfully see the glacier as a day hike from Lewis Meadows, but ran into some who failed with that strategy. Respect the distance, elevation gain, and rope ladder, and leave enough time. (I had to wait 20 minutes for my turn on the ladder, and can imagine it being much longer with some bad luck and a big group) 

A ranger on the trail helpfully suggested I push past Lewis Meadows in favor of sites at miles 12 and 13 and that saved a few miles on the ascent day. Though they aren’t great sites, they are comparable to the ones at Elk Lake, which are crammed together and lack nearby water. I didn’t see a trail to the lake itself there and access to the outlet stream was also poor. Better to arrive in camp with enough water. The only real merit of the Elk Lake campground is location - it’s a good base to reach the glacier from.

I had enough time to go to both the lateral moraine and terminus trail. Both are incredibly beautiful and don’t regret going to both. If you have the time and energy and can only choose one, the lateral moraine gives you a truly world-class view (even with the smoke). But if you are short on time or energy, the terminus trail is still an impressive payoff for your hard work.