Parking
Low Divide has no road access. Reach the signed Martin’s Park junction near the south end of Lake Margaret on foot via the Elwha River or North Fork Quinault trails; the North Fork approach is about 16 miles to Low Divide.
Overview
About Martin's Park Trail
Why go
- Alpine lakes perched above a dramatic cliff
- Views toward Mount Christie and Mount Seattle
Heads up
- No road access to the trailhead
- Primitive footing, a creek ford and route-finding
Martins Lakes sit on top of a roughly 200-foot cliff above the basin, with views toward Mount Christie and Mount Seattle. This is the kind of destination that makes the long approach worthwhile if you want a quiet, high-country overnight. For a photo, frame the water with the ridge behind it; a tight mountain shot misses the unusual perch of the lakes.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe lakes are the payoffMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Olympic map
Full mapElevation3,655–4,678 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 Martin's Park 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 Martin's Park Trail
A remote spur to the high lakesMartin's Park Trail is a primitive out-and-back from a signed junction near Lake Margaret at…
Martin's Park Trail is a primitive out-and-back from a signed junction near Lake Margaret at Low Divide to Martins Lakes. Plan on 4.6 miles round trip (about 2.3 miles each way) and allow around 4 to 5 hours for the spur itself. Low Divide has no road access, so this is not a day hike from a car: from the North Fork Quinault trailhead, the approach to Low Divide is about 16 miles one way. The Elwha River trail system is another backcountry approach.
Expect rough, sometimes hard-to-follow treadThe route climbs through subalpine forest and meadows on primitive tread.
The route climbs through subalpine forest and meadows on primitive tread. Hikers have described boggy stretches, a rocky scramble, a creek ford and a steep, brushy finish. At the crossing, look for the ford rather than forcing a climb up the rocks on the right bank if the tread disappears. Conditions can change with snow, weather and trail work; higher sections may be snow-covered in any season, and map-and-compass skills may be needed.
Plan for wilderness travelThe usual season is early July through October, but snow can cover the upper trail at any time.
The usual season is early July through October, but snow can cover the upper trail at any time. There is no toilet at the lakes, and stream or lake water needs treatment. If you camp, check the park's wilderness permit requirements and carry a bear canister. Campfires are prohibited above 3,500 feet, stock are not allowed, and pets are prohibited in the park wilderness.
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.
