The Seven Lakes Basin - High Divide Loop runs over 18 miles through the heart of Olympic National Park's old growth forests and alpine lake country. This spectacular backpacking route provides access to a lofty collection of lakes, tarns and meadows that feed the Bogachiel, Hoh and Sul Duc river valleys.

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The Hoh Lake Trail runs south from Bogachiel Peak along very high, steep slopes

The Hoh River forms on the slopes of Mt Olympus and drops 7,000' over 50 miles to the ocean

Lunch Lake is one of few lakes in the basin where camping is permitted

By late August blueberry patches turn bright red and produce fruit, a vital source for bears in advance of the long winter hibernation

The Seven Lakes Basin in fact holds well over a dozen lakes and tarns; glaciers disappeared only recently from the basin

Lupine, a ubiquitous flower in the high country, is a member of the pea family

Black tail deer are a subspecies of mule deer

The trail between Lunch Lake and High Divide features a very high concentration of wildflowers

Hikers will enjoy long, open stretches on the highest points of the loop

View of Round Lake (left) and Lunch Lake (right) on the Lunch Lake access trail

The High Divide Trail runs east-west between Bogachiel Peak (5,474') and Heart Lake

Phlox is derived from the greek word for 'flame'

Looking over the Heart Lake Basin from the Cat Basin split (5,042')

The are several impressive waterfalls and cascades along the Sol Duc River Trail

Lunch Lake (4,495')

The trail clears treeline on the final approach to Bogachiel Peak and High Divide

Paintbrush is in the figwort family, which also includes snapdragons and monkey flowers

Despite lofty elevations, true alpine vegetation is sparse on the High Divide Loop

The Bailey Range dominates the southeastern horizon of the High Divide Trail

Portions of the High Divide Trail remain snow-covered all year

Heart Lake

A good map and basic routing skills will lead you to the basin's most remote lakes

The trail enters attractive meadowlands 1.5 miles above Deer Lake

The descent to Lunch Lake may require crampons, axes and self-arrest skills well into July

Fireweed stems can be made into cord, and its flowers produce an edible nectar

View across the Hoh River Valley toward Mt Olympus on the High Divide Trail

Old growth forests are in part defined by Douglas-fir and hemlock trees that exceed 200 years

Sunset in the Seven Lakes Basin

Sol Duc Falls

Native tribes made a healing salve from red columbine

Sunset at Lunch Lake

Subalpine fir subsume douglas fir and hemlock as you rise up the Sol Duc River's north bank

Warm weather creates inversions that contribute to morning fog in the high country

The High Divide and Hoh Lake trails split just below the summit of Bogachiel Peak