Lake Crescent Half-Day Tour

Half Day Guided Tour of Olympic National Park runs through Olympic Hiking Co.. Rated 5.0 across 39 reviews. Runs 4 hours. From $110.

Overview

This half-day outing from Olympic Hiking Co. concentrates on one corner of Olympic National Park: the Lake Crescent area, reached by van from Port Angeles. The tour runs about 4 hours, starting at 13:00 from the operator's tour building at 720 Marine Drive. There is no hotel pickup, so travellers make their own way to Port Angeles, which the listing notes is roughly a 3-hour one-way drive from Seattle.

The route takes in three stops, all with free admission. First comes Madison Creek Falls for 30 minutes, then the longest stop, an hour and a half at Marymere Falls, reached on a hike of about 3 miles through old forest. The tour finishes with 30 minutes at Lake Crescent Lodge before returning to the meeting point. A commercially authorized guide rides along in a 12 or 15 passenger van, and the group is capped at 14 travellers.

Who suits it? One reviewer described the walking as minimal with amazing views, and another called it a great learning experience for their family. The listing says most travellers can participate. Minimum age is 10, and children must come with an adult. Guides get consistent praise for local knowledge of plants, history and wildlife.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in Port AngelesMeet at 13:00 at the Olympic Hiking Co. Tour Building, 720 Marine Drive, Port Angeles. There is no hotel pickup.
2. Madison Creek FallsFirst stop is Madison Creek Falls for 30 minutes. Admission is free.
3. Marymere Falls hikeThe longest stop, 1 hour and 30 minutes, covers a hike of about 3 miles through forest to Marymere Falls. Admission is free.
4. Lake Crescent LodgeA 30-minute stop at Lake Crescent Lodge, with free admission, before the drive back.
5. Return to meeting pointThe tour ends back at the meeting point in Port Angeles.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help travellers prepare for this tour, from what to wear to how the day is paced.

• Warm layers. The listing warns that weather forecasts in the area can be unpredictable and asks guests to bring extra warm layers or water-resistant outerwear. The tour runs rain or shine, so packing for the conditions matters.
• Easy pace. One reviewer described the outing as minimal hiking with amazing views. The listing says most travellers can participate, and another reviewer called it a great learning experience for their family.
• Snacks allowed. One reviewer mentioned bringing snacks in the van, and that belongings are locked while the group is out walking. Nothing in the listing prohibits food on board.
• Small group. A reviewer on a partly filled van said there was plenty of room to breathe.
• Knowledgeable guides. Guide knowledge comes up again and again in reviews, covering birds, wildflowers, history and wildlife. One reviewer said the trip worked better than hiking the trails alone for that reason.
• Wildlife sightings. One reviewer's family saw deer close up on the trail.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, per the listing. There is no hotel pickup, and the drive from Seattle to Port Angeles is long, around 3 hours each way, which makes a same-day Seattle round trip a big day. Weather cancellations are not permitted, since the operator runs the tour rain or shine, and a full refund requires cancelling at least 24 hours before the 13:00 start. Gratuities are not included in the price.

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