Spruce RR Trail

Our second hike today was the Spruce RR Trail from the west TH to Devil's Punchbowl and back, 6 miles round trip with 285 ft of overall gain. We saw several hikers and bicyclists on the trail, but everyone was spread out and most of the time we were by ourselves.

Early view of Lake Crescent along the trail

The trail has been paved and tunnels created to make this trail part of the larger Olympic Discovery Trail. We found the shoulders wide enough to walk on (more comfortable to my feet) and kept us out of the way of the bicyclists. By the tunnels there are rough pedestrian trails along the lakeshore side of the tunnels. This is the tunnel on the west end of the trail.

Trail around the west tunnel, beautiful views of Lake Crescent 

view of the bridge on the east side of the west tunnel

Gorgeous view of Lake Crescent from the bridge

Further down the trail is the tunnel alongside of the Devil's Punchbowl.

View form the east end of Devil's Punchbowl

another view of Devil's Punchbowl

View of Lake Crescent towards the east of the Lake

Entrance to the tunnel alongside the Devil's Punchbowl

This is longer than the tunnel further to the west.

creek

Back at the bridge and tunnel closer to the west end

some of the wildflowers and fungi we saw along the trail today:

  

 

  

 

  

  

  

 

Pyramid Mountain

We drove out to the Northshore of Crescent Lake in Olympic National Park to hike two trails. First, we hiked up Pyramid Mountain, 7.5 miles round trip with 2,500' of gain. We only saw 8 other hikers on this beautiful Saturday. The trail is mostly in this lovely forest. 

Early view with a small sliver of Crescent Lake

The trail crosses a couple of small streams.

There was a downed tree we crawled under just before the slide area.

The trail through the slide area was in better condition compared to when I was here 5 years ago.

View of Lake Crescent to the south from the slide area

We saw many calypso orchids along the trail today.

This trail is full of moss and ferns and a variety of evergreen trees.

View of Lake Crescent from a short spur trail.

Near the top, the trail on the north side had some snow.

Spotter's Cabin from WWII on top of Pyramid Mountain

View from the top to the west of Lake Crescent, Lake Sutherland and the Strait of Juan de Fuca

View from the top to the south of the Storm King area

Another viewpoint on Pyramid Mountain

On our hike down, we saw a woodpecker.

some of the wildflowers and fungi we saw along the trail today: