Appleton Pass-Cat Creek Way-High Divide Loop

44.6 km loop.

Elevations (in meters)

Start End Minimum Maximum Gain

610 610 610 1667 1057

Solduc Trailhead: (73 km from Coho ferry terminal in Port Angeles, ferry required). Drive west from Port Angeles on WA#101 to Soleduck River Road (just past the end of Crescent Lake, 45.9 km west of Port Angeles). Turn left onto Soleduck River Road and drive 22.2 km to the end of the road (if backpacking, stop at the ranger's station, 19.6 km down the road to pick up a back country permit. This is especially important if you are planning on staying in the 7 Lakes Basin).

Facilities available at the trailhead include:

Campsite (70 sites)
Shelter is available
Water is available

Uses

Backpack

Moderate to strenuous (backcountry permit required).

4 days for the loop.

Best from early July thru late September.

Features

This trail features flowers, forests, lakes, meadows, mountains, rivers, views and waterfalls.

Hazards

route-finding skills are required along the Cat Creek Way Trail

Comments

This loop utilizes segments of the following trails (listed in order assuming route is done east to west):
- Soleduck Trail
- Appleton Pass Trail
- Cat Creek Way Trail
- High Divide-Bailey Range Trail
- Bogachiel Trail
- Canyon Creek Trail
- Soleduck Trail (again)

Descriptions of each of these segments can be found in "Olympic Mountains Trail Guide" by Robert Wood (a superb source book for the trails in Olympic National Park).

If you are planning on camping in the Seven Lakes Basin you must reserve a spot when you pick up your back country permit (from the Ranger Station on the Soleduck Road), there is no self registration at the trailhead.

Campsites along the trail

Sol Duc	0.0 km	512 meters	Fire boxes Garbage facilities Outhouse Ranger station Tables	Water is plentiful quality is excellent. No water in winter.
Appleton Pass	8.0 km	1540 meters		Water is plentiful quality is good. Take water from a creek to the west of the lake.
Cat Creek Basin	20.0 km	1300 meters	Stock camp	Water is seasonal quality is fair.
Seven Lakes Basin	35.0 km	1340 meters	Bear cache/wire Outhouse Ranger station Swimming Tent pads	Water is plentiful quality is fair.

Water

Can be a problem on a few stretches of the route, notably the Cat Creek Way Trail (only reliable source is a small brook just before Spread Eagle Pass) and on the High Divide (sources are Heart Lake and Seven Lakes Basin).

View trail condition reports for this trail.