Picnic area · Olympic National Park
Fire rings, tree shade, and a glimpse of Lake Crescent.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Olympic Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Olympic National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Olympic audio tourRecorded for this place
La Poel: A Wooded Lake Crescent Picnic“You're coming toward the turnoff for La Poel Picnic Area on Lake Crescent. It's a summer-season stop for lunch among the trees, with a limited number of tables close to the water.”
Plays as you drive up to La Poel Picnic Area in the Parkwolf Olympic Tour Guide.
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“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
La Poel is a forested picnic area on Lake Crescent, with tables and fire pits among the trees and views of the blue water. It makes a handy place to slow down for a meal or short break on the lake drive. Some tables sit close to the water, so the lake stays part of the visit rather than just a backdrop.
This is a summer-seasonal picnic area, though no exact opening dates are given. Tables nearest the water are limited, so arrive early if that matters to you. Visits can feel peaceful or busy, depending on the day.
The access road is steep, winding, and narrow, and is unsuitable for RVs, trailers, and buses. The site has picnic tables, fire pits, and an accessible outhouse. Wheelchair access around the rest of the picnic area is limited, so access to the restroom does not mean every table is easy to reach.
La Poel began as an auto camp or resort after the Olympic Highway was completed along Lake Crescent in 1922, and later served as a campground. In winter 1934–35, a Civilian Conservation Corps crew built a log, octagonal cooking shelter on the campground's east side.
A massive landslide separated Lake Crescent from nearby Lake Sutherland about 7,000 years ago. That isolation led to two distinctive trout populations found here: Beardslee and Crescenti trout.
Wildlife
710 sightingsOlympic MarmotMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
30 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
42 sightingsGrey WhaleMost seen around noonSighting map
23 sightingsMountain LionMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
71 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
306 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Olympic. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingPyramid Peak Trail7 mi · 4.5 hr · 1 mi awayA steep climb to a WWII lookout above Lake Crescent.
ChallengingAurora Creek Trail6.8 mi · 6 hr · 1.5 mi awayA shaded leg-burner to the Aurora Ridge junction.
EasyOlympic Discovery Trail — Lake Crescent West6.5 mi · 3 hr · 1.8 mi awayA paved wheelchair-accessible link follows Lake Crescent’s north shore.
ModerateFairholme Campground Loop0.8 mi · 45 min · 2.4 mi awayOld-growth forest on a short loop that rises more than expected.
EasySalmon Cascades Trail0.1 mi · 15 min · 3.2 mi awayA tiny accessible walk to a waterfall and seasonal salmon.
ChallengingNorth Fork Sol Duc River Trail to Second Ford12.5 mi · 7 hr · 3.5 mi awayA 12.5-mile river out-and-back to the second ford.
EasyAncient Groves Nature Trail0.6 mi · 45 min · 3.8 mi awayA mossy forest loop with a much hillier tread than it looks.
EasyMoments in Time Trail1 mi · 36 min · 3.8 mi awayA mossy forest walk with a short Lake Crescent shoreline stretch.
Picnic area · 1 mi awayNorth Shore Day Use AreaA dockside picnic break on a deep, glacial lake.
Store · 2.4 mi awayFairholme StoreA handy seasonal stop for Lake Crescent supplies and boat rentals.
Campground · 2.4 mi awayFairholme CampgroundLakeside sites trade a steep gear carry for Lake Crescent access.
Sight · 2.5 mi awayFairholme Boat LaunchGet on the water before Lake Crescent’s afternoon wind rises
Sight · 3.2 mi awaySalmon CascadesA short platform stop for the cascades and coho run.
Picnic area · 3.2 mi awayPicnic Area along Sol Duc RiverA picnic break beside the Sol Duc River.
Lodging · 3.3 mi awayLake Crescent LodgeA 1916 lodge for slow days on Lake Crescent.
Picnic area · 3.3 mi awaySol Duc River View Picnic AreaA picnic table above the river’s fast, foamy run.Parkwolf’s Olympic ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
