BOULDER LAKE TRAIL

Length 2.8 mi/4.5 km 
Access Appleton Pass Trail 
USGS Map Mount Carrie Agency Olympic National Park

The trail begins at 2350 ft/716 m on the Appleton Pass Trail, 0.6-
mi/1.0 km west of Boulder Creek Campground. The path does not switchback 
but makes a long, ascending traverse as it climbs steadily above the North 
Fork of Boulder Creek through dense stands of Douglas fir. The stream is 
hidden in its canyon, but it's booming breaks the stillness. As the trail 
ascends, the forest changes to western hemlock, and little openings exhibit 
displays of beargrass during the summer. Here one has glimpses of Mount 
Appleton across the valley.

Halfway Creek (0.1 mi/1.8 km; 3200 ft/975 m) marks the midpoint between 
the campground and Boulder Lake, not the halfway point on this trail.

After crossing a rockslide where devil's club and vine maple flourish, 
the trail goes through stands of silver fir, Alaska cedar, and western 
hemlock. Here the route traverses a flood slide (an area of finely 
broken shale, boulders, gravel, and detritus that has slid among the 
trees), then enters a grove of Alaska cedar, where many trees are 
adorned with burls. An oddity- five large trunks rising from a single 
root system- stands beside the trail at one point.

Two creeks that cascade down this slope become raging torrents on hot 
days when the snow pack is melting. After crossing them, the route 
flattens at the canyons head, at this point entering the sub alpine 
forest and meadow country. The ground is swampy. Marsh marigolds, 
daisies, and asters bloom among the heather, adding touches of color. 
Huckleberry bushes grow everywhere, clustering thickly round the sub 
alpine firs.

Beyond the Happy Lake Ridge Trail junction (2.7 mi/4.3 km), the trail 
turns south, tops a small rise, and ends at Boulder Lake (2.8 mi/4.5 
km; 4350 ft/1326 m). Cupped on the northeast side of Boulder Peak, the 
more or less round lake is almost encircled by a forested ridge, with 
cliffs and snowfields to the southwest. Along the lake's north side, 
where a camp is located, the land is fairly level, and a peninsula juts 
into the water. The lake is the source of the North Fork of Boulder 
Creek and is stocked with Eastern brook and rainbow trout.

Boulder Peak rises above the ridge to the southwest. The walk to the 
summit (5600 ft/1707 m) is steep but not difficult and rewards the 
hiker with views in all directions, Mount Appleton stands nearby to the 
south. A dozen miles distant, Mount Olympus rises to the right of the 
northern spurs of the Bailey Range, which are topped by Mount Carrie, 
Heavily forested ridges and valleys extend westward, with the ocean in 
the distance. The Strait of Juan de Fuca is to the north. Beyond the 
timbered ridges to the east, the snow-flecked peaks of the eastern 
Olympics extend to the horizon. Directly below lie the Three Horse 
Lakes. The rounded upper lake occupies a dish-shaped cirque. The 
triangular lower one is located on a timbered bench.

Inexperienced hikers should not attempt the traverse from Boulder Lake 
to Appleton Pass. This is a good trip when the brush is covered by snow 
in early summer. The route, less than five miles in length, climbs the 
ridge southeast of Boulder Lake, then descends sharply to Lower Three 
Horse Lake, only to climb again around Everett Peak to Blue Lake. 
Beyond this tarn, the route ascends to Mud Lake, in a snowy basin on 
the north side of Mount Appleton. The route turns west at this point 
and climbs to Passout Pass, and then descends to the basin near the 
head of the North Fork Soleduck. Beyond this point the way climbs to 
the ridge between the North Fork Soleduck and the Soleduck and contours 
to Appleton Pass.