Lake · Olympic National Park

Smith Lake

15.6 mi round trip4,967 ft gainVery hardDay hike: No permitOvernight: Reservation

Permits and reservations

Day hikeNo permit

Day hikes need no permit, only the park entrance pass.

OvernightReservation

Every overnight stay needs a wilderness permit from Recreation.gov. Bear canisters are required at all wilderness camps (free loaners at Wilderness Information Centers).

Permit calendar

Summer permits releaseApril 15, 7 AM PT

Summer quota seasonMay 15 to October 15

Olympic National Park wilderness rules from the National Park Service. Quota areas include Seven Lakes Basin, Grand Valley, Royal Lake, the Ozette coast, and Enchanted Valley. Always confirm with the land manager before you go.

About the trail

Distance15.6 miRound trip, out and back

Elevation gain4,967 ftTotal climb, round trip

Lake elevation3,907 ftFrom elevation data

Overview

Smith Lake is a lake reached by a 15.6-mile round trip from Staircase Rapids Trailhead. The route follows Staircase Rapids Nature Trail, then North Fork Skokomish River Trail, then Black and White Lakes Primitive Trail, then Smith Lake Primitive Trail to the shore.

Photos from hikers

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What you need

Parking and passes

National park entrance fee: $30 per vehicle for 7 days, the $55 Olympic annual pass, or an America the Beautiful pass. The park does not take cash.

Buy an entrance pass

Getting there

The hike starts at Staircase Rapids Trailhead. Save directions offline before you leave, since mountain roads often lose cell service.

Directions to the trailheadGoogle Maps See the lake on a mapGoogle Maps

Conditions

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Full forecast at weather.gov