Lake · Olympic National Park
Upper Basin Tarn
15.5 mi round trip3,898 ft gainVery hardDay hike: No permitOvernight: Reservation
Get alerts for this hikePermits 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
Distance15.5 miRound trip, out and back
Elevation gain3,898 ftTotal climb, round trip
Lake elevation5,726 ftFrom elevation data
Overview
Upper Basin Tarn is a lake reached by a 15.5-mile round trip from Dungeness River Trailhead. The route follows Dungeness Trail, then Royal Creek Trail, then Royal Basin Trail, then Upper Royal Basin Trail to the shore.
Photos from hikers
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What you need
Parking and passes
Forest Service trailhead: display a Northwest Forest Pass or an interagency pass (America the Beautiful).
Buy a Northwest Forest PassGetting there
The hike starts at Dungeness River Trailhead. Save directions offline before you leave, since mountain roads often lose cell service.