Parking
The trailhead is on North Shore Road about a quarter-mile before North Fork Campground; parking is across the road from the path. The approach is remote and partly gravel, with unreliable phone service, so save directions before driving in.
Overview
About Irely Lake Trail
Why go
- Mossy rainforest and creek-side tread on a short outing
- The small lake has a distinctive snag and Mount Hoquiam views
Heads up
- Muddy roots and two creek crossings make the easy grade awkward
- The lake can be very low or nearly dry late in summer
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Olympic map
Full mapElevation498–569 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 Irely Lake 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 tourRecorded for this trailhead
Irely Lake and Three Lakes: Choose the Commitment0:00 / 0:27
“You're approaching the Irely Lake and Three Lakes trailhead. For a shorter outing, Irely Lake is about two point two miles round trip; allow an hour and a half to two hours through mossy forest.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Olympic Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- North Fork Quinault: Camp or River Walk
- The Bat’s Feeding Buzz
- The Glacier’s Natural Dam
- The Squirrel’s Underground Meal
- 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 Irely Lake Trail
A short walk to a small lakeIrely Lake Trail is an easy out-and-back through Quinault rainforest to a small, shallow lake.
Irely Lake Trail is an easy out-and-back through Quinault rainforest to a small, shallow lake. The mapped walk is about 1.1 miles each way, or 2.2 miles round trip, with little climbing; allow about 1.5 to 2 hours for the rough footing and a stop at the water. Some published totals say 2.8 miles round trip, but that doesn't match the mapped 1.1-mile corridor. I'd plan around 2.2 miles and check the trailhead details if the exact total matters. It suits a quiet forest outing more than anyone expecting a grand alpine lake.
Mud, roots and creek crossingsThe trail begins with a short rocky climb through open young hemlocks, then moves into shaded…
The trail begins with a short rocky climb through open young hemlocks, then moves into shaded forest with moss on the trees and roots across the tread. About halfway, it follows Irely Creek through swampy patches; old wooden puncheons help in places, and a brief detour skirts a cliff band. There are two creek crossings, one a rock hop and the other a narrow log bridge. The grade stays easy, but mud and slick roots can make the walk feel slower than the mileage suggests.
The last turn drops steeply to the lake on a ladder of roots. The final few feet may take both hands, so take care there, especially if you're hiking with someone unsteady.
What the lake looks likeThe shore is small and the lake is shallow; by late summer it can be very low or nearly dry.
The shore is small and the lake is shallow; by late summer it can be very low or nearly dry. A tall dead snag stands in the water. Mount Hoquiam rises to the southeast, and you may spot the tip of Colonel Bob Peak through the trees to the south. Ducks and a woodpecker have been observed around the lake. For a photo, use the snag and wooded shore in the foreground, with the mountain view beyond when it's visible.
Getting thereThe trailhead is on North Shore Road about a quarter-mile before North Fork Campground, with…
The trailhead is on North Shore Road about a quarter-mile before North Fork Campground, with parking across the road from the path. The approach is remote and partly gravel, and phone service can be unreliable, so save directions before leaving the main highway. North Fork Campground is a separate stop another quarter-mile along the road; it has picnic tables and a nearby pit toilet but no water. Pets aren't allowed on this trail. If you continue into the backcountry for an overnight trip, wilderness permits are required.
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.
