Lake · Olympic National Park

Swimming Bear Lake

18.4 mi round trip4,461 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

Distance18.4 miRound trip, out and back

Elevation gain4,461 ftTotal climb, round trip

Lake elevation5,042 ftFrom elevation data

Overview

Swimming Bear Lake is a lake reached by a 18.4-mile round trip from Sol Duc Trailhead. The route follows Sol Duc Falls Nature Trail, then Sol Duc River Trail, then Cat Basin Cutoff, then Cat Basin Primitive Trail, then Swimming Bear Lake Way 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 Sol Duc 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