Marymere Falls and Lake Crescent Lodge
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With Sol Duc as our base camp in Olympic National Park, we headed to Lake Crescent and hiked to Marymere Falls, a beautiful 90 foot waterfall tucked into moss draped forest. The 1.7-mile round trip winds through towering old growth trees before a short, steep climb to the viewpoint.
Marymere Falls Trail
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Next, we stopped by Lake Crescent Lodge to check out the historic old building. While we were there, I went full wildlife marshal. A kid was throwing big rocks at a duck by the shore, and thankfully had bad aim. I hollered at him to stop harassing the wildlife and that "throwing rocks at ducks isn’t very nice!" He gave me a side-eye, and picked up another handful of rocks (I said under my breath "Are you kidding me!?!"), but he threw them nowhere near the duck. Duck concussion averted!
After that, we walked the short Moments in Time Trail, a peaceful loop near the lake with interpretive signs and quiet forest. At one point, Danny was one stride away from stepping on a snake who about two feet long and perfectly camouflaged on the path. I grabbed his arm and exclaimed, “STOP!” The snake slithered into a bush, and Danny says, “That snake couldn’t hurt me.” I’m like, “Yeah, but you could’ve hurt the snake!!” I lamented that I didn't get a pic of the cool looking snake, and Danny was like I'll go get him out the bush. For the second time that day, I said NO to harrassing the wildlife. Apparently on this day I was appointed wildlife protector. I should have gone to a park ranger and gotten a complimentary junior badge for my contributions.
In the afternoon, we biked the Spruce Railroad Trail, starting from the west end instead of the main trailhead. We dropped our bikes to take a quick stroll to the Devil’s Punchbowl, where people were swimming and cliff-jumping into the blue water. We then continued the full 11.2 mile round trip along the lake. Gorgeous trail with smooth riding, tunnels, and lake views.
The bird gods must’ve been pleased with my wildlife-protector duties, because feathered friends started showing up all over the place. First was a hoary woodpecker along the Moments in Time Trail, hammering away at a mossy tree. Later, while we were picnicking near Lake Crescent, a gray jay swooped in, followed by a white-crowned Sparrow quietly pecking around the ground, and then a flashy Steller’s jay showed off his blue hues. During our afternoon bike ride, a male junco popped in too—just in case I needed the full set.
After that, we walked the short Moments in Time Trail, a peaceful loop near the lake with interpretive signs and quiet forest. At one point, Danny was one stride away from stepping on a snake who about two feet long and perfectly camouflaged on the path. I grabbed his arm and exclaimed, “STOP!” The snake slithered into a bush, and Danny says, “That snake couldn’t hurt me.” I’m like, “Yeah, but you could’ve hurt the snake!!” I lamented that I didn't get a pic of the cool looking snake, and Danny was like I'll go get him out the bush. For the second time that day, I said NO to harrassing the wildlife. Apparently on this day I was appointed wildlife protector. I should have gone to a park ranger and gotten a complimentary junior badge for my contributions.
In the afternoon, we biked the Spruce Railroad Trail, starting from the west end instead of the main trailhead. We dropped our bikes to take a quick stroll to the Devil’s Punchbowl, where people were swimming and cliff-jumping into the blue water. We then continued the full 11.2 mile round trip along the lake. Gorgeous trail with smooth riding, tunnels, and lake views.
The bird gods must’ve been pleased with my wildlife-protector duties, because feathered friends started showing up all over the place. First was a hoary woodpecker along the Moments in Time Trail, hammering away at a mossy tree. Later, while we were picnicking near Lake Crescent, a gray jay swooped in, followed by a white-crowned Sparrow quietly pecking around the ground, and then a flashy Steller’s jay showed off his blue hues. During our afternoon bike ride, a male junco popped in too—just in case I needed the full set.