Hike of the Week: Mink Lake

Mink Lake makes for a quiet retreat in the Sol Duc Valley

Mink Lake

When snow coats the highlands, think mink!

by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin

Quick Facts
Location: Sol Duc Valley, North Olympic Peninsula
Land Agency: National Park Service
Roundtrip: 5.0 miles
Elevation gain: 1,500 feet
Contact: Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center (360) 565-3100; http://www.nps.gov/olym
Map: Green Trails, Seven Lakes Basin/ Mt Olympus Climbing, WA- No 133S
Notes: Dogs Prohibited; National Park Entry Fee
Access: From Port Angeles, follow US 101 west for 29 miles, passing Lake Crescent. About 2 miles beyond the Fairholm Store, turn left onto Sol Duc Hot Springs Road. Follow this road (passing entrance booth) for 12 miles. Just past the Eagle Ranger Station turn right into the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. Find trailhead and parking west of hot springs building.



While it’ll be sometime before Deer Lake and the High Divide melt free of snow, nearby little Mink Lake should be emerging from its white blanket soon. While not as dramatic a spot as the High Divide and its sparkling lakes, Mink makes for a nice quiet retreat. What this hike lacks in views, it compensates in solitude, and in the prospects of spotting some wild critters. The trail isn’t overly difficult, winding its way to the quiet lake ringed with grassy meadows and big trees.


The way starts in a cool dank second-growth forest immediately coming to a junction. The trail left leads 2.8 easy miles to Sol Duc Falls; a good option for early and late season hiking. The way to Mink Lake heads off first on old road, then on good tread, entering old-growth after about a half mile. Winding above the Sol Duc Valley, the trail rounds a knoll, then weasels its way along Mink Creek arriving at the lake in 2.5 miles. A side trail leads left to campsites which double as good lunch spots on the lake’s grassy and sunny southern shore. Darting dragonflies will help entertain you with their air shows.
If not content just sitting by this placid body of water, and if it looks like the snows are receding, you can extend your hike by continuing up the trail to the Little Divide. There aren’t many views along the way, but the forest is grand, there are lots of heather meadows, and the territory is as wild and lonely as it gets in the Olympics.

For information on lodging and other attractions near Mink Lake visit
Click here for link to Olympic Pennsula