UPPER LENA LAKE TRAIL Limited maintenance Length 4.0 rrx/6.4 km Access Lena Lake Trail: The Brothers Trail USGS Maps The Brothers; Mount Washington Agencies Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park This trail formerly began at the northwest corner of Lena Lake, where it intersected with the Lena Lake Trail and The Brothers Trail. Now, however, it starts farther south, at a junction (2100 ft/640 m) with the Lena Lake Trail west of the lake. The new section connects with the old trail northwest of the lake. The distance to Upper Lena Lake from Lena Like is only 4 miles, but the last half is so rough and steep the backpacker is inclined to believe it is much farther. Initially, the trail goes through stands of Douglas fir, red cedar, hemlock, and silver fir as it traverses above Lena Lake, which is not visible, then veers to the northwest. Here it parallels Lena Creek, which is also hidden. The stream roars loudly when the water is high but murmurs faintly when it is low. The new section ends where it merges (0.4 mi/0.6 km) with the old trail coming up from the northwest corner of the lake. (The abandoned section provides an alternate approach via Lena Lake. Sec Lena Lake Trail description.) As it switchbacks up the mountain, the trail gets rougher and is often crisscrossed with tree roots. The big Douglas-firs disappear, and the forest is now composed mostly of hemlock and silver fir. Upon entering Olympic National Park (1.2 mi/1.9 km; 2550 ft/777 m), the trail climbs a bit, then descends to Lena Creek but does not cross the stream. The growth of devils club is luxuriant, and on the creeks far side an avalanche fan is covered with vine maple and big leaf maple. This slope turns brilliant red and yellow in October. Leaving Lena Creek, the trail crosses a large tributary that comes in from the south. A campsite is located on the opposite side. The trail then steepens as it climbs through a wet area, where many little streams cross the path, but the worst places are covered with puncheon. Water is abundant, and on a hot day the hiker needs it. As the trail ascends rocky gullies, it virtually becomes a staircase of roots and rocks, washed by small brooks. The path is bordered by luxuriant undergrowth; if the jungle of salmonberry, devil's club, slide alder, currant, elderberry, and Alaska cedar were not cut back by the trail crew, it would be impenetrable. The way is not only steep but also much like walking in a creek bed. The trail then climbs out onto a promontory, where one can sit in the sunshine and enjoy the view down the valley. The trail, chipped out of living rock, then works its way up among knobs and knolls composed of basalt. Disconcertingly, the route goes up another rocky gully bordered by devil s club and salmonberry, while to the right Lena Creek cascades down a rocky defile. The trail then crosses the creek, which here flows over a bed of solid rock. A sign indicates that fires arc not permitted beyond this point. The trail switchbacks into and out of the forest as it climb above the canyon. The trees are mostly Alaska cedar, mountain hemlock, and silver fir. Huge boulders lie scattered about, in fields of wildflowers-mostly lupine, arnica, bluebells, daisies, valerian, cow parsnip, and thistle. The trail parallels Lena Creek, which is not always visible but its rushing sound can be heard continuously. Climbing ever more steeply, the trail traverses a side hill covered with boulders, and one can see a wall of trees ahead-behind which lies Upper Lena Lake. The trail then attains a point where the lake is visible. At this point it forks, but both branches lead down to the water. The right one follows the shore to the northwest corner, where it becomes Scout Lake Way Trail; the left branch traverses south along the ridge (from where Mount Rainier can be seen, resplendent in the afternoon sunlight), then descends to the lake's outlet, where it crosses Lena Creek (4.0 mi/6.4 km; 4550 ft/1387 m). Upper Lena Like lies between Mount Lena (5995 ft/1827 m) and Mount Bretherton (5960 ft/1817 m). The 26-acre lake occupies a depression carved in the slate and sandstone by an Ice Age glacier and is surrounded by meadows, scree slopes, and subalpine forest. The lake is reported to have rainbow trout, but the fishing season is limited by the fact that the lake sometimes remains frozen well into June. A seasonal ranger station, staffed only in the summer months, is located here. Mount Bretherton was named for Bernard J. Bretherton, the naturalist with the 1890 O'Neil expedition. Why this peak was chosen to bear his name is puzzling because this mass of basalt lies in the watershed of the Hamma Hamma, one of the streams the expedition did not explore. The area around the lake has been virtually loved to death-paths go everywhere through the heather because people tend to take a direct route to any destination. Consequently, the National Park Service is attempting to obliterate many paths by covering them with burlap and posting signs indicating they are not to be used. In addition, the trampled sites at the lakes northeastern corner have been closed to camping in order that the vegetation may reestablish itself; but good camps that can be used are located along the northern shore, and just south of the outlet creek on the east side. This basin is a peaceful, tranquil place. When the sun disappears behind the western ridge, the trees on the skyline appear to be on fire, the foliage illuminated like the filament of a light globe. During the evening the lake's reflections are silvery at first, but as night comes on, the surface darkens, with luminescent sparkles breaking the surface, particularly when the rainbow trout leap high.