Grandview Peak from the upper Grand Valley. The trail gets pretty rough as you get up closer to Grand Pass (Jerry Adams)

Some of the nicest views are right at the start, within a mile south of the Obstruction Point Trailhead. (Jerry Adams)

Looking back down Grand Valley from Grandview Peak (Jerry Adams)

Marmot - the wildlife is very tame. It's easy to get good photos. (Jerry Adams)

Badger Valley from the top (Jerry Adams)

Map of the hike described (Jerry Adams)

• Start point: Obstruction Point Trailhead
• End point: Grandview Peak
• Hike type: Reverse lollipop
• Distance: 13.6 miles
• Elevation gain: 4250 feet
• High point: 6,700 feet
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Seasons: July - mid-October
• Family Friendly: No
• Backpackable: Yes
• Crowded: Yes

Hike Description

The Grand Valley is one of the best hikes in the Olympics. You get grand panoramic views of mountains in all directions, alpine lakes and meadows, and some of the most habituated wildlife. That said, don’t expect any solitude. This is a very popular hike. If you're backpacking, you have to reserve specific camp areas on specific days. Since this is a fair distance from Portland, you will need to be organized and prepared. Perhaps you could combine this with a trip that includes visiting Hurricane Hill, taking the ferry to Victoria, walking along the Dungeness Spit and/or the Pacific Ocean beaches.

The best approach to this hike may be to start south from Obstruction Point and return via Badger Valley. You can enjoy views of the Grand Valley and Grandview Peak as you’re going in, and on the way out, you start at the bottom of Badger Valley and the views get better and better as you ascend.

There is camping only in designated campsites, each one marked with a numbered post. There are a few sites each at Grand Lake, Moose Lake, and Gladys Lake. You have to reserve a particular lake for each night. That’s a good thing in that you’re guaranteed a site, but the sites at a particular lake are first come first served, so if you don’t want the worst site, you'd better arrive early. Some sites are somewhat private, but others are right next to the main trail. However, no sites are really private – this is one of the negatives of this hike. The highest lake, Gladys Lake, is probably the best camping location, followed by Moose Lake. You get better views at Gladys Lake because it’s more open, but there’s still plenty of shelter if the weather gets bad. There are bear wires at all three lakes, but you can also bring your own bear canister. There are composting toilets at Grand Lake and Moose Lake. It’s basically just a large plastic box with a hinged lid that you open.

If you want to extend your hike, the trail down from Obstruction Point to Deer Park is great, and if you wanted to do a longer loop, you could hike back up the Cameron Creek Valley and back up over Grand Pass to return to Obstruction Point via Grand Valley. That loop would be about 30 miles.

Detailed Description

You'll start at the Obstruction Point Trailhead. Take the Grand Pass Trail south, following the signs to Grand Pass, Grand Lake, and Moose Lake. The trail continues for about 1.6 miles along a ridge, going up and down a little. These are some of the best views you’ll see the whole trip.

Then you hit a junction to an unmarked trail that continues along the ridge. This trail is not shown on the national park map. It goes towards Grand Pass, bypassing most of the Grand Valley. It requires a little scrambling and walking on loose rock and is a more adventurous but view-filled option than the regular trails. Stay left on the marked trail that goes down to the Grand Valley. It’s 1.8 miles and 1600 feet elevation loss down to the Grand Valley. From a trail junction, it’s about 0.2 miles and 200 feet down to Grand Lake, which you can see through the trees. Stay right on the Grand Pass Trail

Moose Lake comes up in about 0.4 miles, and Gladys Lake is in another 0.7 miles. There’s about 450 feet elevation gain up to Gladys Lake. (Grand Lake is 3.6 miles, 450 feet gain, and 1850 feet loss from the trailhead. Moose Lake is 3.8 miles, 650 gain, 1650 loss from the trailhead. Gladys Lake is 4.3 miles, 900 gain, 1650 loss.)

From Gladys Lake, it’s 1.6 miles and 1000 feet to Grand Pass. There are some tricky places as you get towards the top. Earlier in the season there can be steep snow. Otherwise, there are loose rocks you can slip on. There are places where you might have to use your hands a little. As long as you’re at Grand Pass, do the additional 0.2 miles and 300 feet elevation gain to Grandview Peak. The trail is easier than what you’ve just done. The views are, indeed, grand!

On your way back, go out via Badger Valley. Take that 0.2 miles and 200 feet down to Grand Lake, and make a left before you reach the lake itself. The trail continues down 1.4 miles and 700 feet loss along Grand Creek down to its confluence with Badger Creek. Then you'll need to go up two miles and 1300 feet to the junction with the Elk Mountain Trail. Keep left here, and continue rising another 700 feet uo the head of the valley to a ridge crest. Turn left here at another junction to hike 0.3 miles back to Obstruction Point.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder
• Wilderness Trip Planner (Olympic National Park)
• Green Trails Maps: Hurricane Ridge Elwha North, WA #134S and Olympic Mountains East, WA #168SX
• Green Trails Maps: Mt Angeles, WA #135
• National Park Service: Olympic National Park
• National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Olympic National Park
• Discover Your Northwest: Olympic Peninsula Map
• Hike 734: Day Hikes of Olympic National Park Map Guide

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• Vault toilets, picnic tables, information kiosk
• $30 National Parks 7-day pass (America the Beautiful Pass also valid)
• No dogs on trails
• $8 per night backcountry camping fee plus $6 permit fee (see Wilderness Backpacking Reservations)
• Camp at designated campsites only; fires not permitted in Grand Valley
• Pack all food in a bear canister or use the bear wires at designated campgrounds

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Grand Valley Loop Hike

• Olympic National Park | The Grand Loop in 4K | 8/23-8/25/2021
• Olympic NP: Grand, Cameron, Gray Wolf Loop (Sept. 4-7, 2020)

Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Grand Valley Loop Hike

Guidebooks that cover this hike

• Day Hikes in Washington State by Don J. Scarmuzzi
• Washington Hiking by Craig Hill
• Pacific Northwest Hiking by Craig Hill & Matt Wastradowski
• Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula by Craig Romano
• 100 Classic Hikes: Washington by Craig Romano
• Best Wildflower Hikes: Western Washington by Peter Stekel
• Hiking Washington by Oliver Lazenby
• Hiking Washington by Ben Adkison
• 100 Classic Hikes in Washington by Ira Spring & Harvey Manning
• 102 Hikes in the Alpine Lakes, South Cascades and Olympics by Ira Spring & Harvey Manning

More Links

• Grand Valley (Olympic National Park)
• Obstruction Point (Olympic Hiking Co.)
• Grand Valley Loop (Hike 734)
• Grand Pass Trail – Olympic National Park (MB Guiding)
• Badger Valley - Grand Lake Loop (ProTrails)
• Grand Valley Loop (Washington Trails Association)
• Grand Valley via Grand Pass Trail (Washington Trails Association)
• Grand Valley (The Mountaineers)
• Grand & Badger Valley (Gravl)
• Badger Valley – Grand Lake Loop (Jay's Journeys)
• Badger Valley to Grand Lake and Grand Pass (10 Adventures)
• Hiking Badger Valley and Grand Valley (Olympic National Park) (3 Minute Hikes)
• The Grand Loop (Climber Kyle)
• Obstruction Point & Grand Valley (Northwest Wildflowers)

More Information

• Port Angeles Visitor Center (360) 565-3100
• Forks Visitor Center (360) 374-7566

Contributors

• retiredjerry (creator)