Deer Lake Trail

Deer Lake Trail is an out-and-back from the Sol Duc Falls Trailhead to a pair of forested lakes above the Sol Duc Valley. Plan on 7.6 miles round trip and about five hours. You share the popular Sol Duc Falls approach at first, then leave it for a sustained climb through dense forest. It is a good choice if you want a full day hike to a lake and do not mind earning the view.

Follow the well-kept approach toward Sol Duc Falls and pass the Lover’s Lane entrance. The Deer Lake branch climbs beside Canyon Creek; several waterfalls along the creek make natural places to pause. The route climbs through dense forest. The grade is the main effort: the hike gains about 1,700 feet before reaching the lake.

Deer Lake is two lakes side by side, one much smaller than the other. A path follows the shore toward backcountry campsites, while the named trail continues toward Little Divide. For the Deer Lake day hike, enjoy the shoreline and retrace your route. At the water, frame the opposite evergreen shore and ridge in the reflection, with a little near shore in the foreground to give the view depth.

The lower approach is part of a valley used by salmon and trout moving between the Pacific and their freshwater spawning grounds. Chinook and coho arrive in late summer and spawn in fall; cutthroat trout and steelhead run in fall and winter and spawn into spring. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but the seasonal runs explain why the river is such a lively part of this forest.

Start at the Sol Duc Falls Trailhead lot at the end of Sol Duc Road; it also serves the waterfall walk and other nearby routes. The road is weather-dependent and often closes in winter because of snow and ice, so check its status before driving in. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort has a restaurant and shop as a separate stop, and the resort closes in winter. Pets and bicycles are not allowed on park trails. Day hikers do not need a wilderness permit, but an overnight stay at Deer Lake does.