Your cart is currently empty!
Grand Ridge
—
by
(This Throwback Thursday blog features the hike from Obstruction Point to Deer Park and back again along Grand Ridge in Olympic National Park that I hiked in 2018 while working on my Day Hikes of Olympic National Park Map Guide.)
Starting from Obstruction Point, the hike from Grand Ridge is a breathtaking trek with sprawling views from Canada to the Cascade Range to Mt. Olympus itself. Catch it on a bluebird day and it might become one of your favorite Olympic National Park hikes.
Once you drive down the narrow, sketchy road to Obstruction Point, you get out of your car to incredible views. I was blessed with a cloudless sky on a mid-July day and my views were limited only by surrounding summits and the curvature of the Earth.
There was still some lingering snowfields even into July when I stepped onto the trail. They were easily navigable as I began skirting below Obstruction Peak. I passed the trail that drops down into Badger Valley with it’s lovely views and worked up to a cool overlook on the other side of the peak, giving me views of the ridge that I drove in on, some of Hurricane Ridge and out to Mt. Carrie to the south.
From there it was an alpine delight, traveling along a ridge matted with flowering plants that Olympic Marmots fed on. Horned Larks hopped around and filled the air with their tinkling calls. As I traversed below the summit of Elk Mountain, suspended pocket lakes became visible from across the drainage. Further still and I began to see up Grand Valley, spying first Grand Lake with a large waterfall below it, then Moose Lake further up the drainage.
It wasn’t just views to the south, but views looking north across the straits and into Canada were breathtaking. I could look over at Klahhane Ridge to the northwest. These ever-changing vantages were intoxicating.
Eventually, the trail steeply dropped down the ridge, but regained its gradual wanderings as it headed toward Maiden Peak. Variations on the theme continued with more views, this time with summits to the southwest such as Deception Peak and The Needles. To the northeast, I could see Glacier Peak and Mt Baker with their snow-capped hulks popping up from the forested ridges of the Cascades.
The trail wrapped just below Maiden Peak with my turnaround spot, Deer Park, visible, then began descending into the trees. Views were limited, but the forest birds were aplenty. I changed my low-growing phlox and douglasia with Indian Paintbrush and Avalanche Lilies.
The trail hit a saddle where it joined up with an old road, then climbed about 400 ft to the ranger station at Deer Park. I turned around and retraced my steps. The lighting had changed, but the views were still amazing.
I did this as a long, 15 mile day, but you could do just the forested stretch from Deer Park, or an alpine stroll from Obstruction Point until you decide to turn around. Either way, you can’t go wrong on Grand Ridge!
Leave a Reply