Hike of the Week: Mildred Lakes
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| The scene is quite serene at the Mildred Lakes |
Mildred Lakes
Rough and tumble hike to a trio of fine backcountry lakes
by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin
July 6, 2007
Quick Facts
Location: Hamma Hamma Valley
Land Agency: Mount Skokomish Wilderness-Olympic National Forest
Roundtrip: 9.0 miles
Elevation gain: 2,500 feet
Contact: Hood Canal District Olympic National Forest, Quilcene (360) 765-2200; www.fs.fed.us/r6/olympic
Green Trail: Mt Steel, WA-No 167
Access: From Hoodsport, travel US 101 north for 14 miles, turning left (west) onto the Hamma Hamma River Road (FR 25). Continue for 13.5 miles (first 7.5 mile are paved) to road end and trailhead.
Notes: NW Forest Pass required
Never officially constructed, the trail to Mildred Lakes is a tough one. Much of the route is nothing more than a way path. You’ll clamber over root and rock-wade creeks-and gain and lose elevation-steeply! Then why bother? Because all of your hard work and perseverance will be rewarded with three beautiful backcountry lakes tucked in a hidden valley surrounded by craggy summits. And aside from the scenery, the fishing is pretty darn good too.
Immediately entering the Mount Skokomish Wilderness, the first mile or so is fairly easy. But once beyond a large avalanche chute, misery begins. Around and over fallen logs and straight-up rocky and rooty slopes the trail climbs a 3,200-foot ridge. Enjoy the view of Mount Pershing before dropping 250 feet off the ridge to a forested glen graced by a rushing creek. Cross the creek on a shaky log (or wade) and then two minutes later cross another creek.
The way gets really tough now. Ascend a steep ridge-drop into a narrow ravine-then climb again reaching a 4,000-foot heather-draped ridge crest. Enjoy excellent views of Mount Cruiser and the Sawtooth Range, but no lakes. You’ll need to drop 200 feet through marshy mosquito meadows before finally coming to the first Mildred. Set in old timber with a backdrop of rugged summits, the scene is quite serene. Scramble over root and rock to the far side of the lake for good fishing and resting posts.
To reach upper Mildred, one of the largest backcountry lakes in the Olympics, cross Lower Mildred’s inlet stream and follow a rough path a third of a mile. The other Mildred can be reached by following a rudimentary path north from the upper lake’s outlet creek.
For information on lodging and other attractions near Mildred Lakes visit
Click here for link to Olympic Pennsula
