GRAND PASS TRAIL

Length 8 mi/12.9 km
Access Obstruction Point Road
USGS Maps Wellesley Peak; Mount Angeles; Maiden Peak
Agency Olympic National Park

This up-and-down trail follows Lillian Ridge southward from Obstruction Point, descends to 
Grand Valley, climbs over Grand Pass, and then descends again to a junction with the Cameron 
Creek Trait. Most of the route lies near or above timberline.

The trail begins at Obstruction Point (6150 ft/1875 m), where it traverses barren, almost 
treeless, tundra like country. This area lies in the rain shadow of the Olympics, and the 
light snowfall it receives usually disappears by midsummer. The semiarid land resembles the 
Far North, and it is eerie and mysterious when shrouded in fog.

As it follows Lillian Ridge, the trail climbs, and here the wind often blows fiercely, making 
the sub-alpine firs dance. The ridge then flattens, and the trail, after crossing a level 
expanse, switchbacks down through a rock slide and traverses meadows where grasses wave in the 
wind. The slopes are matted in many places with low-growing juniper bushes, bluebells and pearly 
everlasting bloom among chunks of black sandstone covered with lichen.

Because the ridge rises higher, the trail climbs again, crossing shale slides, to its highest 
point (2.1 mi/3.4 bin 6450 ft/1966 m), where it turns easterly to go down a spur of Lillian Ridge. 
During the long descent to Grand Valley, the path makes about twenty switchbacks through scree slopes, 
meadowland, and stands of sub-alpine fir. The undergrowth among the firs consists of huckleberry, 
azalea, mountain ash, and numerous kinds of wildflowers. Amalia Falls can be observed from an opening 
among the trees; beyond the viewpoint, the trail descends to a junction (0.8 mi/6.1 km; 4950 ft/1309 m) 
with the Badger Valley Trail near Grand Lake.

Grand Valley contains three lakes-Grand, Moose, and Gladys-that are linked to each other by 
Grand Creek. The lakes contain rainbow and naturalized Eastern brook trout. Grand Lake, the 
lowest and largest of the trio, was formerly known as Etta Lake and lies at 4740 ft/1445 m. 
More or less triangular in shape, it is fringed by sub-alpine forest. On both sides the mountains 
sweep upward to high peaks, and nearby is an added attraction-beautiful Amalia Falls.

As it traverses southward above Grand Lake, the trail goes through stands of sub-alpine fir 
and meadowland to Moose Lake (4.3 mi/6.9 km; 5075 ft/1547 m), which lies cupped between rocky, 
forest-clad slopes. The lake is long, narrow^ and deep, and it, too contains Eastern brook 
trout. The name is odd, because moose are not found in the Olympics; supposedly, Amos B. 
Cameron named the lake for Frank Moose in the early 1900's.

Beyond Moose Lake the trail climbs through meadows near the headwaters of Grand Creek to tiny 
Gladys Lake, and then ascends barren country, occasionally crossing shale slides and snowfields, 
to Grand Pass (6.3 mi/10.1 km; 6450 ft/1966 m). The panorama from this point is varied, Many 
peaks are visible to the south and west; Grand Valley lies to the north. Hikers should take 
the short walk from the pass to the top of the unnamed peak (6701 ft/2068 m) to the southwest. 
The view of Mount Olympus alone makes it worthwhile. Here, too, is one of the best places to 
see McCartney Peak (6784 ft/2068 m), which is only 1.5-mi/2.4 km distant, and the cirque at the 
head of the Lillian River. The stagnant Lillian Glacier, the river's source, is merely a remnant 
of the once extensive glacier that filled the valley.

Descending sharply from Grand Pass to Cameron Creek, the trail reenters the forest, where it 
crosses several little meadows covered with luxuriant growth, including wildflowers such as lupine, 
Columbia lily, bleeding heart, columbine, shooting star, and bluebells. On the shale slides the 
low-growing phlox is abundant. The trail down from the pass is steep, primitive, often wet and 
inclined to be slippery, and it is no place for novice hikers. One should use caution in making 
the descent, in any-event.

The trail ends at a junction with the Cameron Creek Trail (8,0 mi/12.9) km; 4200 ft/1280 m) 
below Cameron Basin.