Trailhead information
Sol Duc Trail
Primary1,900 ft elevation
The standard start for the High Divide loop and everything in the Sol Duc / Seven Lakes Basin quota area. NPS puts the area 15 miles south of Lake Crescent.
- No restrooms
- No water
Booked one camp per night, in order
Seven Lakes Basin Permit
Olympic National Park · Washington
High Divide area camping.
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Seven Lakes reservation dates
- Application window
- Opens Not a lottery: summer reservations are released April 15 at 7:00 am Pacific
- Season
- May 15, though snow usually delays this loop to mid-July to October 15
- route distance, loop
- 18.2mi
- elevation gain
- 3,050ft
- max group size
- 12people
Plan the Seven Lakes Basin, camp by camp
The loop is 18.2 miles from Sol Duc Trailhead, and it climbs from 1,961 ft to 5,395 ft at High Divide. There are 12 places to camp on the loop.
18.2 mi loop
Sol Duc Falls
WaterDesignated site, booked by name
Mile 0.8 of 18.2
Elevation 1,961 ft
Capacity: 3 sites
About a mile in, where the river drops into a slot. The busiest quarter-mile of the loop.
Seven Lakes Basin, stop by stop from Sol Duc Trailhead
How to get a Seven Lakes permit
As of September 2026, Seven Lakes in Olympic National Park, Washington requires a permit issued via reservation. Seven Lakes is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Seven Lakes permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Seven Lakes route covers 18.2 miles with 3,050 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Olympic Peninsula, WA
Step 1: Create a National Park Service account
Sign up at National Park Service if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn more:
Seven Lakes pro tips
- Book on April 15 at 7:00 am Pacific. The whole summer goes on sale at once and nothing is held back for walk-ups.
- If you want a date before mid-July and nothing shows online, call the Wilderness Information Center at (360) 565-3100. The park narrows this area's season by snow and holds those dates back.
- Camp at Lunch Lake or Heart Lake rather than Deer Lake if you can get it. It puts you on the divide for sunrise instead of three hours of climbing away from it.
- Carry an ice axe before mid-July and know how to use it. The park's own wording is that self-arrest skills are usually necessary on the High Divide slopes.
- There are no campfires at the lake camps, so bring enough fuel for hot meals both nights.
More on Seven Lakes: Live availability activityWhen Seven Lakes permits open upDo I need a Seven Lakes Basin permit?
How much a Seven Lakes permit costs
Seven Lakes permit fee: $6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit, plus $8 per person per night for adults 16 and over. Under 16 camp free.
The Seven Lakes hike
- Distance
- 18.2 miles
- Elevation Gain
- 3,050 ft
- Route Type
- Loop
- Duration
- 2-3 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
An 18.2-mile loop out of Sol Duc past a string of alpine lakes and along a ridge that stares straight across at Mount Olympus and the Hoh valley.
About this permit
The High Divide loop through Seven Lakes Basin is 18.2 miles with 3,050 feet of climbing, starting and finishing at the Sol Duc Trailhead. The park rates it moderate and gives a best season of mid-July through September. That late start is snow, not preference.
The park manages this as one quota area covering Sol Duc, Seven Lakes Basin and the Mink Lake area, including Cat Basin, High Divide and Little Divide. The only numeric quota Olympic publishes anywhere is the East Fork Quinault and Enchanted Valley trial, so the practical limit here is simply what Recreation.gov shows as bookable.
Camps are Deer Lake, Lunch Lake, Heart Lake and Sol Duc Park, each capped at six people, with designated group sites at Deer Lake and Sol Duc Park for parties of 7 to 12. Mink Lake takes up to twelve. The lake camps have no campfires. Bear canisters are required: the park names the Sol Duc/High Divide Loop/Mink Lake area explicitly, and prohibits hanging food in bags there.
Summer-season reservations for May 15 through October 15 are released April 15 at 7:00 am Pacific, and no sites are held for same-day walk-ups. One caveat the park publishes for exactly this loop: some quota areas, such as the Sol Duc / Seven Lakes Basin, have a narrower season based on snow conditions, and if early-season dates are not showing online the park asks you to call the Wilderness Information Center at (360) 565-3100.
The route
The loop is 18.2 miles with 3,050 feet of climbing, and the park rates it moderate with a best season of mid-July through September. Most parties go up the Sol Duc River Trail past Sol Duc Falls, camp at Deer Lake or Sol Duc Park, cross High Divide with Lunch Lake and Heart Lake as the other two camp options, and come down the far side.
The timing matters more here than the mileage. The park says snow persists on this trail until early to mid-July, and warns that the steep slopes of High Divide can remain snow or ice covered until mid-July and sometimes later, with an ice axe and self-arrest skills usually necessary. As of the park's 2026-06-15 report, patchy snow was still lingering on north and east aspects from Heart Lake over Bogachiel Peak to the Lunch Lake junction.
Why it matters
This is the high-country counterpart to Olympic's rainforest trips, and the one loop in the park where you spend a full day above treeline with the Olympic massif in view the entire time. It is also the reason the park lists a single combined quota area (Sol Duc, Seven Lakes Basin and the Mink Lake area, including Cat Basin, High Divide and Little Divide) rather than metering each lake separately.
The feeling
You climb through old forest, pass Deer Lake, and then the trees give out and you are on an open ridge with the basin's lakes below you on one side and the Hoh River valley dropping away on the other, with Olympus and the Blue Glacier filling the skyline. Marmots, blueberries in late summer, and often a bear working the slope below the trail.
Seven Lakes hike highlights
- 18.2 miles as a loop with 3,050 feet of gain
- Camps at Deer Lake, Lunch Lake, Heart Lake and Sol Duc Park, six people each
- Group sites for parties of 7 to 12 at Deer Lake and Sol Duc Park; Mink Lake takes twelve
- No campfires at the lake camps
- Snow on High Divide into mid-July and sometimes later, with an ice axe usually necessary
- Bear canisters required, free to borrow at a Wilderness Information Center
- Sol Duc Road is paved, 14 miles off US 101, and was listed open as of 2026-03-24
How hard the Seven Lakes hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5
Best for: Backpackers who want a real alpine ridge without technical climbing. Fit day-hikers can do the loop in two nights comfortably.
Recommended experience: Multi-day backpacking with a 3,000-foot climb, plus snow travel and self-arrest if you go early. After the snow melts out the trail itself is straightforward.
Not recommended for: Parties without an ice axe before mid-July, and anyone uncomfortable on steep snow. The exposure here is a snow-covered traverse above a long runout, not a cliff edge.
Trailhead information
Mink Lake/Lover's Lane Trail
Alternate1,643 ft elevation
The Mink Lake side of the same quota area. NPS gives 4.3 miles from the Sol Duc Resort trailhead to the Bogachiel River and Little Divide junctions, 1,643 to 4,130 feet.
- No restrooms
- No water
Notes
NPS says the Hidden Lake Creek ford on Lover's Lane can become hazardous at any time from heavy precipitation or seasonal snowmelt.
Trailhead information
Sol Duc Campground
AlternateFrontcountry base at the end of the road. Useful for an early start: NPS measures 8.4 miles and 1,900 to 4,800 feet from the Sol Duc trailhead to the High Divide junction.
- No restrooms
- No water
When to hike Seven Lakes
Best time to visit
Mid-July through September, which is the park's own stated best season and is set by snow rather than crowds. Late August adds ripe blueberries on the divide. If you want early July, call the Wilderness Information Center at (360) 565-3100 first. The park narrows this area's season by snow conditions and dates may simply not appear online.
- Peak
- Mid-July through September
- Shoulder
- Early July and early October
Spring
Snow-covered. The reservation season opens May 15 but the loop is generally not walkable then.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Sol Duc Falls is at full volume
- Advantage: Almost nobody on the trail
- Challenge: High Divide is under snow with steep, icy slopes
- Challenge: The park may not release early dates online at all
- Challenge: Camps are buried and water sources hidden
Summer
The season. Snow clears from High Divide around mid-July and the basin comes into wildflower.
Crowd level · high
- Advantage: The ridge walk with Olympus in view the whole way
- Advantage: Wildflowers in the basin through late July
- Advantage: Blueberries on the divide in late August
- Challenge: Hardest permits of the year
- Challenge: Mosquitoes in the basin in July
- Challenge: Lingering snow on north and east aspects even in mid-summer
Fall
Clear, cold and empty until the weather turns. The reservation season closes October 15.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Best light of the year on the divide
- Advantage: Huckleberry colour across the basin
- Advantage: Permits loosen up
- Challenge: First snows can arrive on the ridge in September
- Challenge: Short daylight for an 18-mile loop
- Challenge: Cold nights at the lake camps
Winter
Outside the reservation season and under deep snow.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Solitude, for parties equipped for winter mountaineering
- Challenge: The reservation season runs May 15 to October 15 only
- Challenge: Avalanche terrain on the divide
- Challenge: No published conditions reporting for the area in winter
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
⚠️
Backcountry Tips
- Today: Wind gusts to 42mph. Secure tent, avoid exposed ridges.
- Today: 100% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
Today
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49°
39°
100%
Wed
☁️
46°
36°
Thu
🌧️
47°
40°
Fri
🌧️
52°
41°
Sat
⛅
62°
38°
Sun
☁️
66°
45°
Mon
☁️
59°
42°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
Seven Lakes photography guide
Golden Hour
Sunrise from High Divide, with first light on Mount Olympus across the Hoh valley and the basin still in shadow.
Best Light
Late afternoon on the ridge, when the Bailey Range picks up warm light. The lakes photograph best in the flat calm of early morning.
Beat the Crowds
Sol Duc Falls carries the entire day-use crowd and it evaporates within a mile. On the divide, be up there at sunrise. The day-hikers doing the loop clockwise do not reach it until late morning.
Classic Shots
- Mount Olympus and the Blue Glacier from High Divide
- The lakes of Seven Lakes Basin from the ridge above
- Sol Duc Falls in the slot, shot long for the water
- Heart Lake reflecting the divide at dawn
- Huckleberry colour across the divide slopes in late September
Seven Lakes rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- An approved bear canister: required, and free to borrow at a Wilderness Information Center
- An ice axe and the skills to self-arrest if you are crossing High Divide before mid-July
- A stove; campfires are prohibited at the lake camps
- Rain and wind layers for an exposed ridge
- Water treatment
Recommended gear
- Traction devices for lingering snow on north and east aspects
- Trekking poles for the climb to the divide
- Sun protection: the ridge has no shade at all
- Insect repellent for the basin in July
Rules & regulations
- 01A wilderness permit is required for every overnight trip and must be reserved on Recreation.gov
- 02Group size is limited to 12 people and 8 stock park-wide; the lake camps here cap at six
- 03Parties of 7 to 12 must use the designated group sites at Deer Lake or Sol Duc Park
- 04Bear canisters are required in the Sol Duc/High Divide Loop/Mink Lake area; hanging food, garbage or scented items in bags is prohibited there
- 05No campfires at Deer Lake, Lunch Lake, Heart Lake or Sol Duc Park
- 06Permits are issued around 3 days before your trip start date
- 07No sites are held as same-day walk-ups
Hazards & considerations
- Steep snow on High Divide, which the park says can hold into mid-July and sometimes later and usually needs an ice axe and self-arrest skills
- Patchy lingering snow on north and east aspects between Heart Lake, Bogachiel Peak and the Lunch Lake junction, per the park's 2026-06-15 report
- Weather on an exposed ridge with no bail-out for several miles
- Bears in the basin and on the divide slopes
- Route-finding across snow-covered slopes where the tread is buried
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Seven Lakes.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Seven Lakes · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Seven Lakes FAQ
Do I need a permit to hike the Seven Lakes Basin loop?
For any overnight, yes: an Olympic National Park wilderness permit reserved on Recreation.gov, at $6 per permit plus $8 per person per night for anyone 16 or over. Day hiking the loop needs no permit.
How long is the Seven Lakes Basin and High Divide loop?
18.2 miles with 3,050 feet gained, per the park's own trail page, which rates it moderate. That is a loop figure.
When is the snow gone on High Divide?
The park says snow persists on this trail until early to mid-July, and that the steep slopes of High Divide can remain snow or ice covered until mid-July and sometimes later, with an ice axe and self-arrest skills usually necessary. On 2026-06-15 the park reported patchy snow still lingering on north and east aspects from Heart Lake over Bogachiel Peak to the Lunch Lake junction.
How many permits are issued per night for Seven Lakes Basin?
The park manages Sol Duc, Seven Lakes Basin and the Mink Lake area (including Cat Basin, High Divide and Little Divide) as one quota area, but the only numeric quota Olympic publishes anywhere is the separate East Fork Quinault and Enchanted Valley trial. In practice the limit is whatever Recreation.gov shows as bookable.
Do I need a bear canister for the Seven Lakes Basin permit?
Yes. The park names the Sol Duc/High Divide Loop/Mink Lake area as an area where all food, garbage, beverages other than water and scented items must be stored in bear canisters, and where hanging them in bags is prohibited. Canisters are free to borrow at Wilderness Information Centers.
Can a group of eight camp in Seven Lakes Basin?
Only at a designated group site. Deer Lake, Lunch Lake, Heart Lake and Sol Duc Park each cap at six people; parties of 7 to 12 must use the group sites, which exist at Deer Lake and Sol Duc Park. Mink Lake takes up to twelve.
Seven Lakes trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Seven Lakes permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Enchanted Valley
13 miles up the East Fork Quinault to a meadow ringed by waterfalls, with the 1930s chalet at the head of it.
Tradeoffs
Rainforest instead of alpine, gentler grade, and a much longer season. It is the one area in the park with a published numeric quota, and it currently has a washout a third of a mile before the chalet.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Hoh River Trail
17.4 miles up the Hoh to Glacier Meadows, ending below the same Blue Glacier you look at from High Divide.
Tradeoffs
The other side of the same mountain, from underneath. Longer, flatter for most of its length, and only the upper camps are quota-limited.
- Same AreaPermit required
Olympic Wilderness Permit
The park-wide overnight wilderness permit for every non-quota area in Olympic.
Tradeoffs
Much easier to get, but the named quota areas still have to be booked as quota areas.
Where to stay near Seven Lakes
- Hoh Rainforest CampgroundOlympic National Park
- Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort CampgroundOlympic National Park
- Fairholme CampgroundOlympic National Park
- All Washington campgrounds
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