Trip reported by Jim & Kirsten Barnes.
The Lake Constance hike in the Olympics is a trip worth mentioning. This hike is extremely strenuous!! It is the steepest trail in the Olympic National Park.
All of the hike is in old growth and much of the trail consists of stair-climbing up roots. You're about dead when the trail breaks out of the forest onto the shelf where the lake lies. It's a great place to set up camp and spend a day or two exploring up higher, around Mt. Constance or Constance Pass.
The lake is in a cirque and the only view out and not up is the way you hiked in. This lake is packed with Brook Trout. I was kicking myself for not packing a rod. You should defintely pack as light as possible for this trip. It was a solo trip for me and I didn't pack a tent and boiled lake water.
Stats: 3 miles, elevation gain 3300'.
Note: This is backcountry wilderness travel. Any trail can become very dangerous in winter conditions. You are responsible for informing yourself of the hazards and taking the necessary precautions. Please read Terms of Use.