Parking
The spur starts at Falls Camp, not at a road-side trailhead. Reach it on foot along the Upper Gray Wolf River Trail from Slab Camp Trailhead; the 4.2-mile spur distance excludes that substantial approach.
Overview
About Cedar Lake Way Trail
Why go
- A high-country lake and flower-rich meadows reward the climb.
Heads up
- Faint, brushy tread and a steep ascent make route-finding slow.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Olympic map
Full mapElevation3,996–5,282 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
6 active Olympic alerts
- CautionUS 101 Hoh River Bridge reduced to one laneUS 101 at the Hoh River Bridge is restricted to one lane of alternating traffic; obey the signals and 25 mph speed limit.Official details
- ClosureStaircase wilderness trails and campsites remain closedWilderness trails and campsites around Staircase remain closed during recovery from the Bear Gulch Fire; the developed Staircase area, including the Rapids Loop, campground, and ranger station, is…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Olympic Tour Guide
Your drive to Cedar Lake Way Trail, narrated.
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 tour- 204 audio storiesacross Olympic’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Olympic Marmot, Humpback Whale, Grey Whale, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 148 trails, 94 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Cedar Lake Way Trail
The Cedar Lake spurCedar Lake Way is a 4.2-mile out-and-back from Falls Camp to Cedar Lake, retracing a 2.
Cedar Lake Way is a 4.2-mile out-and-back from Falls Camp to Cedar Lake, retracing a 2.1-mile one-way spur. It climbs about 1,400 feet to the lake; allow roughly five hours for the spur itself. Falls Camp is reached on foot along the Upper Gray Wolf River Trail from Slab Camp Trailhead, so this is a backcountry outing and the approach adds a substantial walk beyond the distance shown here.
Find the faint startThe junction is at the top of the meadow near Falls Camp’s campsites.
The junction is at the top of the meadow near Falls Camp’s campsites. It can be difficult to pick out, and the first meadow has faint paths that can lead you astray. Bring a map and compass and be prepared to navigate if the tread disappears; snow can cover the high route in any season.
A steep, rough climbThe route gains height quickly through subalpine meadows, brush, and small trees.
The route gains height quickly through subalpine meadows, brush, and small trees. The rough tread crosses brushy, sometimes wet meadows and a creek; reports describe log-assisted crossings and downed trees. The short mileage understates the effort, and overgrowth can make progress slower than on a maintained trail.
The lake and its meadowsCedar Lake sits in a high mountain basin below surrounding ridges.
Cedar Lake sits in a high mountain basin below surrounding ridges. In summer, the meadows can hold Columbia tiger lilies, columbine, gentian violet, and white bog orchids; blooms vary by season and year. At the lake, frame the water with the mountain slopes beyond it—the shore and basin are the route’s defining view.
Wilderness planningThe park lists early July through October as the best season for the Upper Gray Wolf route,…
The park lists early July through October as the best season for the Upper Gray Wolf route, though snow may linger or return at higher elevations. Overnight camping requires a wilderness permit and bear canisters; dogs are not permitted on this trail or in park wilderness; service animals are the exception. Treat water drawn from streams before drinking.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Olympic
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.
