Backpack - Lower Lena Lake

There is a required parking pass (Northwest Forest Pass or the America the Beautiful pass) to park at the trailhead. We will meet at the trailhead at 10am Saturday. 

Meet at the Lena Lake trailhead - https://goo.gl/maps/56nk8rTP1CtfPB7b6. 

From the eastside of Puget Sound: Take the Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry to Bainbridge Island.  Continue straight off the Ferry Dock onto WA-305 N/Olympic Dr SE.  In Poulsbo, take a right onto WA-3 N towards the Olympic Peninsula. Take a left onto the Hood Canal Bridge and follow WA-104 W.  Take a left on Center Rd. When you get into Quilcene, take a left onto US-101 S. After 29 miles, take a right on Hamma Hamma Rd. About 8 miles down the road you will see the Lena Lakes/The Brothers trailhead on the right (700 ft).  

South of Seattle: Take US 101 north to Hamma Hamma Rd (about 50 miles from Olympia). Take a left on Hamma Hamma Rd and drive ~8 miles until you reach the Lena Lakes/The Brothers trailhead (700 ft). 

This will be my first time leading a backpacking trip with the Mountaineers. I have planned and lead a handful of backpacks with friends over the last year and they have all went well. I am excited to share my love of backpacking with you.

My goal for this trip is for everyone to  have fun, learn together, and enjoy the scenery.  My hope is that all participants gain confidence in their skills throughout the trip. 

This is a great first backpack option for anyone seeking to wake up next to a beautiful lake and landscape. The trail to the lake is well maintained with switchbacks and a few bridges over creeks. There is no permit needed to camp. Lower Lena Lake is outside of National Park boundary, so there is no hard requirement on bear canister.  Please store food in either bear canister or Ursack. I will be using a bear canister. This trip is planned for early fall, so please plan accordingly with layering for warmth and possible precipitation.  We will take our time and get to know each other on the trail and at camp.

Saturday we will hike up the the campsite at Lower Lena Lake. We will set up camp and explore the area.  There are some trails that lead around the lake to explore. Sunday we will wake up and head back to cars. 

Please feel free to email me with any questions regarding this trip if you would like more information. 

LOWER LENA LAKE

6 MILES ROUND TRIP WITH 1,225 FEET OF ELEVATION GAIN, 1,925 FT HIGH POINT

Hike the Lena Lake Trail No. 810 starting with a quick 700-foot ascent on 17 switchbacks. You'll be surrounded by second and old growth moss covered trees that bathe you with a delightful green color. Remnants of logging days past are also visible along the trail. A bit less than half way to Lena Lake, a bridge crossing passes over dry rocks, but the creek sinks below the surface before and after the bridge most of the year. After a brief ascent past the bridge, a moss covered rock overlook presents views of the Lena Creek basin. Reach Lena Lake 3.0 miles from the trailhead. Take the right fork to continue to camping and a slightly longer path to Upper Lenba Lake that hugs Lena Lake, or take the left for to hike to Upper Lena Lake.

Preference to Tacoma Branch Introduction to Backpacking Students. Trip will open to all Mountaineers on May 1.