Parking
No road-access trailhead serves LaCrosse Pass. Reach its north end from the West Fork Dosewallips River Trail or its south end from the Duckabush River Trail; both require a backcountry approach.
Overview
About LaCrosse Pass Trail
Why go
- A high-country pass links the Dosewallips and Duckabush valleys.
- Open meadow and ridgeline views at the pass.
Heads up
- Long backcountry approaches; no road-access trailhead.
- No water near the pass and a steep southern descent.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Olympic map
Full mapElevation2,808–5,423 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 LaCrosse Pass 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 LaCrosse Pass Trail
The crossingLaCrosse Pass Trail is a 6.
LaCrosse Pass Trail is a 6.4-mile, one-way backcountry connector between the West Fork Dosewallips River Trail junction and the Duckabush River Trail junction. It climbs to the 5,566-foot pass, then descends into the Duckabush valley; this is a point-to-point segment, not a loop. It is usually part of a longer wilderness itinerary, not a hike from a road. Allow around five to six hours for this segment alone; that is a planning estimate for its distance, roughly 2,000 feet of climbing and steep mountain tread.
Climbing from West ForkThe north side rises more gradually through montane and subalpine forest before opening into…
The north side rises more gradually through montane and subalpine forest before opening into high-country meadows. The tread is maintained, but the climb is still substantial. Snow can obscure the upper route in any season, so map-and-compass skills may be needed when the tread disappears.
Over the pass and down to the DuckabushThe open meadow and surrounding ridgelines are the main payoff at LaCrosse Pass.
The open meadow and surrounding ridgelines are the main payoff at LaCrosse Pass. From there, the southern side drops steeply to the Duckabush River Trail junction. There is no water near the pass: carry enough for the crossing and treat water collected from lower streams or rivers. The route finishes well below its start, so plan for a long descent after the climb.
Plan it as wilderness travelThere is no road-access trailhead at LaCrosse Pass.
There is no road-access trailhead at LaCrosse Pass. Reach either end on foot from other trails, and plan your approach, exit and overnight itinerary before setting out. There are no established campsites or toilets on this named segment. Overnight wilderness camping requires a permit, and pets are not allowed in park wilderness. Mid-July through October is the usual season, though snow can linger on the high trail.
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.
