Picnic area · Olympic National Park
A dockside picnic break on a deep, glacial lake.
Overview
Lake Crescent was carved by glaciers and reaches 624 feet deep. A landslide about 7,000 years ago separated it from Lake Sutherland. That isolation left it with two trout forms found nowhere else, Beardslee and Crescenti. Low nitrogen limits phytoplankton, helping the lake keep its clear blue-green color.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy this lake is differentMap
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
Lake Crescent North Shore: A Picnic by the Dock“Lake Crescent's North Shore Day Use Area is ahead, with picnic tables and a dock beside the water. If you've brought lunch, I'd use this for a simple lakeside break.”
Plays as you drive up to North Shore Day Use Area in the Parkwolf Olympic Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“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
North Shore Day Use Area is a small picnic stop on Lake Crescent's north shore. Tables, fire pits and a dock make it a good place to stretch a meal by the water; I'd stop for the view and picnic, then keep moving.
The facilities here include picnic tables, fire pits, a dock and an accessible vault toilet. Food service and potable water aren't listed for the site, so plan on bringing what you need. The toilet is labeled accessible, but the route from parking to the dock and its step-free access aren't clear.
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 · 0.1 mi awayA steep climb to a WWII lookout above Lake Crescent.
EasyOlympic Discovery Trail — Lake Crescent West6.5 mi · 3 hr · 0.9 mi awayA paved wheelchair-accessible link follows Lake Crescent’s north shore.
ChallengingAurora Creek Trail6.8 mi · 6 hr · 1.3 mi awayA shaded leg-burner to the Aurora Ridge junction.
ModerateFairholme Campground Loop0.8 mi · 45 min · 2.6 mi awayOld-growth forest on a short loop that rises more than expected.
EasyMoments in Time Trail1 mi · 36 min · 3.2 mi awayA mossy forest walk with a short Lake Crescent shoreline stretch.
EasySpruce Railroad Trail4 mi · 2 hr · 3.2 mi awayWalk a paved old railroad grade beside Lake Crescent.
ChallengingMount Storm King Trail4.4 mi · 4.5 hr · 3.3 mi awaySteep switchbacks end at a tree-framed Lake Crescent view.
ModerateMarymere Falls Trail1.8 mi · 1.3 hr · 3.3 mi awayOld-growth forest leads to close views of a 90-foot waterfall
Picnic area · 1 mi awayLa Poel Picnic AreaFire rings, tree shade, and a glimpse of Lake Crescent.
Campground · 2.6 mi awayFairholme CampgroundLakeside sites trade a steep gear carry for Lake Crescent access.
Store · 2.7 mi awayFairholme StoreA handy seasonal stop for Lake Crescent supplies and boat rentals.
Sight · 2.8 mi awayFairholme Boat LaunchGet on the water before Lake Crescent’s afternoon wind rises
Lodging · 2.8 mi awayLake Crescent LodgeA 1916 lodge for slow days on Lake Crescent.
Picnic area · 2.9 mi awayBovee's MeadowCross the meadow for a picnic beside Lake Crescent.
Ranger station · 3.3 mi awayStorm King Ranger StationA historic log cabin with stories of Lake Crescent ferries and trout.
Sight · 3.3 mi awayStorm King Boat LaunchA short dock stop for clear water and mountain views.Parkwolf’s Olympic ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
