Olympic National Park - Flapjack Lakes
Flapjack Lakes in Olympic National Park is in the southeast section of the park, accessed out of the Staircase area and the Skokomish River Trail. I visited on a four day, thre night trip in August, 2024.
Due to various logistical reasons, after arriving at the trailhead mid-afternoon, I only had 3.5 miles to hike on the almost flat river trail, which mostly is quite wide. Camp was at Spike Camp.
The junction heading up to the lakes was just before the camp.
The Flapjack Lakes Trail is quite different than the Skokomish River Trail. It is quite often very rocky and rooty, making for a much more rugged hike.
Madelyn Creek - all those big trees got to fall over some day.
Many sections like this.
But after four miles of that in three and a quarter hours, the two lakes are nice to arrive at.
After setting up camp and having lunch, I headed up the supposedly primitive trail up to Gladys Divide. Unlike the trail to the lakes, it is mostly a nice smooth trail in the forest. This is higher up, approaching the divide.
Rocky peaks show themselves near the divide.
Sign showing 5000 feet (1100 feet up from ther lake in 1.5 miles).
Looking east to the other side.
Dramatic Peaks on the divide, one of those is Mt. Cruiser.
Blueberries were prolific.
So were huckleberries.
Maybe as prolific as any place I have camped at. So I collected some t add to my breakfast.
After a leisurely start, I headed on the day's hike to Black Lake, which starts by descending the trail I came up the day before for almost a half hour before heading up again.
The trail tunnels through a field of fireweed.
Finally breaks out into the open.
Trail junction - almost there!
Black Lake.
Black at camp, I had the afternoon free. After reading and napping, I took the trail that goes around the lower lake - views up to the Gladys Divide were amazing, here from the isthmus between the two lakes.
A closeup of two of the rocks on the divide..
Looking across lower Flapjack Lake. My camp was in the trees on the right.
Another view of the divide, this time from the far side of the lower lake, with one of it's little islands in view.
