MARTINS PARK TRAIL Length 2.3 mi/3.7 km Access Low Divide Trail; North Fork Quinault Trail USGS Map Mount Christie Agency Olympic National Park This trail begins at the south end of Lake Margaret (3600 ft/1097 m), at a junction with the Low Divide Trail. The path climbs to the lower and upper basins of Martins Park on the northern slopes of Mount Christie. Ascending forested slopes, the trail first goes through a marshy area where the vegetation is luxuriant, then follows a deep ravine or gorge, and along the way Mount Seattle can be glimpsed through the trees. Beyond the ravine the path climbs over a little spur into the lower basin of Martins Park (1.0 mi/1.6 km; 4000 ft/1219 m). Although not large, this is one of the loveliest mountain meadows in the Olympics-a flat, grassy garden enclosed on three sides by rugged spurs of Mount Christie. Behind the glossy, burnished cliffs that overlook the basin on the east are the Marlins Lakes, hidden from view here. On the basins south side a snow chute leads up the mountainside. During the winter and spring, avalanches thunder down this track, depositing vast amounts of snow upon the meadow. Consequently, it is usually not free of snow until late summer. After the snow has melted, the path becomes muddy and at times disappears between tree-covered areas. Wildflowers bloom profusely here beside the clear, rock-bottomed brooks that meander among large, angular blocks of sandstone scattered through the heather and dwarf huckleberry. The basin is well watered, not dry like many meadows, and the rippling streams reflect glints of sunlight. The wildflowers include the Jeffrey shooting star, mountain meadow buckwheat, alpine yellow monkey flower, red mountain heather, sub alpine buttercup, marsh marigold, pioneer violet, and elephant's head. Clumps of the large-leaved false hellebore add artistic touches. Although the view higher up is better, this lower basin is an ideal place to relax. One can sprawl beside a big boulder and sunbathe while listening to the gurgle or the brooks, the murmur of the wind, and the humming of bees collecting nectar from the flowers. One should keep an eye out for wildlife-marmots and deer may be observed here; bears, too, on occasion. The trail across the meadow is often covered by avalanche snow. After crossing the creek that comes down from the upper basin, the path climbs the slope above the stream traversing thick growths of slide alder and marshy spots noted for displays of elephant's head and Jeffrey shooting star. The trail then emerges onto the lower edge of the upper basin (1.9 mi/3.1 km; 4300 ft/1311 m), which lies below the Christie Glacier. This basin is a large expanse of rocks, heather, and snowfields. The route climbs toward Christie Col, on the mountain's eastern flanks, but angles back to the north, crossing heather slopes. The trail ends at Martins Lakes (2.3 mi/ 3.7 km; 4650 ft/1417 m), also known as Surprise Lakes. Both lakes are deep and aquamarine in color, the north one more or less round and bluer, and the south lake long and narrow and lending toward green. On warm days a multitude of tiny frogs sun themselves on the shores, jumping into the water if disturbed. The lakes arc bordered on the west by the crest of the polished cliffs that are visible from the lower basin. A good campsite is located between the lakes. The tarns are located on a spur that extends north toward the Elwha River. Here the views are splendid-the vista includes the peaks surrounding Elwha Basin (Christie, Seattle, Queets, Meany, and Barnes) as well as such points of historic interest as the Elwha Snow finger and Dodwell-Rixon Pass. One notes that the Elwha makes a beeline from the pass to the Elwha Basin, in sharp contrast 10 its usual sinuous course. According to geologist Rowland W. Tabor, at this point the valley was probably eroded along a fault line, although this cannot be determined with certainty because much of the rock is hidden by snow.