Milk Lake: Beautiful Hidden Gem in Olympic National Park

By Samantha Panzera | January 30, 2020 |

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Milk Lake is a Hidden Gem in Olympic National Park Just a Short Hike Past Upper Lena Lake.

If you have hiked all the way out to Upper Lena Lake and are still up for more hiking make sure you don't miss Milk Lake. This tiny glacier-fed lake is absolutely stunning with its turquoise blue waters. The vibrant colors of the lake in contrast with the lush green meadow filled with Avalanche Lillys is definitely an Olympic National Park must-see for those who are up for the challenge of backpacking for miles over rugged terrain.

There is hardly any information about this little lake online and prior to hearing about it from a park ranger, I had no idea this little gem existed. When I was picking up my Olympic National Park Wilderness permit to go backpacking at Upper Lena Lake for the first time, I got talking to the ranger on duty about my upcoming trip. The ranger recommended for my group to go check out Milk Lake which was just a short ways past Upper Lena Lake. He drew on my map of Upper Lena Lake Campsites where the lake should approximately be. Milk Lake didn’t even have the name written on the topo maps. It just looks like just a small pond with no name. But always being up for an adventure and doing some exploring, we set out to go check it out.

Getting to Milk Lake from Upper Lena Lake.

Milk Lake is just 1.9 miles there and back from the right-hand side of Upper Lena.

We followed the windy narrow trail that wraps around the left of Upper Lena Lake. You will pass over a log jam before the trail becomes an even smaller footpath.

Milk Lake and Upper Lena Lake in Olympic National Park

Once you pass the end of Upper Lena Lake where the waters from Milk lake flow into Upper Lena, the trail cuts left and you will climb about 200 feet of elevation and see a small waterfall.

After passing the small waterfall you will follow a small boot path through a gorgeous alpine meadow that is filled with Avalanch Lillys. The vegetation is very delicate, try your best to stick to the pathway to avoid damaging the meadow.

After cresting the top of the hillside you get your first look at Milk Lake. When my friends and I saw the Lake we were absolutely stunned. The lake is one of those glacial-fed lakes where the rock flower and glacial till give the lake that unearthly teal blue hue. I always love seeing lakes like this. So it was a happy surprise to unexpectedly stumble across one.

Want to Learn How to Get to Upper Lena Lake so You Can Visit Milk Lake?

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Backpacking Upper Lena Lake- Olympic National Park

Watch Our Hike to Milk Lake

Milk Lake Photo Gallery

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