For those visiting the Lake Crescent area of Olympic National Park, destinations such as Marymere Falls and the Lake Crescent Lodge are very popular. Less popular but equally accessible is the Barnes Creek Trail – a meandering foray into one of the park’s most beautiful old growth forests. The trail follows scenic Barnes Creek through impressive douglas fir and western hemlock with ample opportunity to spot wildlife.

The Barnes Creek Trail leads through dense stands of 100 year old douglas fir trees

Barnes Creek lets out into ancient Lake Crescent whose depths exceed 600'

Views of the Mt Storm King area from the Barnes Creek Trail

The Barnes Creek Trail leads through a riparian area before graduating to a montane ecosystem

A bobcat track on the Barnes Creek Trail - the area hosts bobcat, black bear and an occasional cougar

Down fir trees funnel Barnes Creek in the late spring

The Barnes Creek Trail showcases some of the park's nicest old growth firs

Shelf fungi attaches to rounds in the cooler, shadier parts of the trail