21 Badger Valley
A 4.6-mile day hike or short backpack from Obstruction Point to Grand Lake.
Trail type: Foot.
Best season: Late June to mid-October.
Elevation gain: 720 feet.
Elevation loss: 2,110 feet.
Maximum elevation: 6,140 feet (trailhead).
Topo maps: Mount Angeles; Custom Correct Gray Wolf–Dosewallips.
Finding the trailhead: From Port Angeles, drive 17.6 miles south on Hurricane Ridge Road to the visitor center. Then turn left onto the gravel Obstruction Point Road. Drive 7.6 miles to a large but unmarked parking area. The trail departs to the northeast.
The Hike
This trail provides an alternate route to Grand Lake and can be combined with the Grand Valley route for a one-day loop trip. The trek begins by following the Elk Mountain Trail around Obstruction Peak, where the Badger Valley Trail splits away to the right. It switchbacks down a steep scree slope to reach the head of the Badger Valley, with its many snowmelt rivulets splashing down the mountainsides. The trail runs along the northern edge of this basin, passing alpine glades dotted with subalpine firs and Alaska cedars. A cutoff trail soon descends into the valley from Elk Mountain, after which the main trail dives into the subalpine forest for a time.
The path emerges at a low meadow, covered in some places by rank grasses and cow parsnip and in others by a well-groomed sward sprinkled with the pink and white spikes of elephant’s head. After crossing this extensive opening, the trail descends steeply through a montane forest to reach the floor of the Grand Valley. Here it encounters an emergency camp where fires are permitted. The trail then turns south, climbing through the glades along Grand Creek and passing several impressive waterfalls. The path crosses a meadowy bench below the foot of Grand Lake where willows cluster in the poorly drained sites. The trail reaches a marked junction at the head of the lake; a path leading to the main camping area is to the left, and the Grand Valley Trail is a short distance uphill to the right.
Key Points
0.0 Obstruction Point trailhead.
0.2 Junction with Badger Valley Trail. Turn right as trail descends.
1.2 Junction with Elk Mountain cutoff trail. Stay right.
3.0 Emergency camping area (fires allowed).
3.5 Trail crosses Grand Creek to reach east bank.
4.2 Trail returns to west bank of Grand Creek.
4.6 Junction with spur trail, head of Grand Lake.
Looking down the Badger Valley