" + describeIt + "

"); popUpWin.document.write("
"); popUpWin.document.write("©2001 Alpinejo

"); popUpWin.document.write(""); popUpWin.document.write("Close!

"); popUpWin.document.close(); } //-->

Alpinejo.tripod.com: Backcountry Trails Guide
Is moving to a new web server, please click on this link to go to  Alpinejo.com .

Please update your bookmarks.

I had to move my site due to Tripods new policy of only providing 20 megs of free space, my site currently uses the old maximum at nearly 49 megs. As you may have noticed my site was also being shut down on a daily basis due to exceeding Tripod's new bandwidth policy--but hey what could I expect for free. It was fun while it lasted.

In the coming weeks I hope to release the new format of Alpinejo-Backcountry Trails Guide with a new database and searching capabilities.

Thanks for visiting!

 

Washington Backcountry Trails

Royal Lake camp

A deer in camp

Bill and Ted in the distance the guys in coveralls

The Royal Basin trail

Neal posing with great views in the background

Royal Basin

Royal Lake

Definition of terms below
Location: Olympic National Park 
Directions: Head north on US 101, turn left on Louella Road, left on Palo Alto Road which becomes road #28, keep right onto #2860, cross the Dungeness River and park in the huge parking lot.
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation +/- 2600 ft elevation gain
Distance: 14+ miles round trip
Rating: 9 out of 10
Fishing: Good
Scenery: Awesome
Map: Printable Topo Map

 

Royal Basin is a must do hike in Washington. This report does not do it justice of just how beautiful it is up there.

You start out in the trees but soon the meadows are all around you. This valley is very beautiful, with the occasional sight of a deer grazing. The trail seems like it just meanders along the valley bottom for along time then before the lake the trail steepens.

This was the first time in all my adventures that I seen somebody hiking in coveralls-in fact the were two guys, that I will call "Bill and Ted".

On our hike fairly early in the season we did hit some snow at Royal Lake, but the sun came out so I went snokeling to find the fish. I caught a few, but none of any size. No raft is needed at this lake, you can almost cast across it, plus there is a trail around it.

The highlight of the trip was climbing the summit of Mt Deception. My hiking partner was feeling ill so I went up it solo. I climbed it with minimal gear and my ice axe, had I owned crampons I would have used them. It was named correctly, I thought I had made it only to find out it was still quite-a-ways still to the top. The views on top were out of this world, the Needles were just right there but being by myself did not even think about attempting them.

Do it again? Yes

Other Links:
Wildernet - Royal Basin trip report
Yahoo Sports - Royal Basin trip report



Choose another thumbnail from the list on the left, or return to the front page.

Although Alpinejo.tripod.com provides backcountry trail reports, you are responsible for your own safety. We will not accept any responsibility for injuries or rescues that may take place after reading this information.


Comments or suggestions?
If you have a favorite hiking or fishing web site that would be useful for others..
.
Send me an Email