One of Olympic’s signature backpacking loops, High Divide climbs out of Sol Duc into Seven Lakes Basin, traverses high meadows beneath Mount Olympus, and drops back through the lake country that makes the route so loved.
How to book
Booking the High Divide Loop
Olympic wilderness permits are required year-round, but the camps that make this loop work usually disappear during the April 15 summer release. Heart Lake, Lunch Lake, Deer Lake, and Sol Duc Park are the real choke points, not the trailhead itself.
All permits are created through Recreation.gov or with the Wilderness Information Center. There are no paper self-registration permits at the trailhead.
Sol Duc / Seven Lakes Basin can have a shorter practical season than the broader summer quota window if snow still covers the divide.
Bear canisters are required throughout the High Divide Loop area, and larger groups need designated group sites.
The loop starts and ends at Sol Duc Trailhead near Sol Duc Hot Springs, so the logistics are clean once you have the camp sequence sorted.
Finish
This is a true loop. Most parties either climb through Deer Lake and the divide first or save the higher basin for the second day depending on where the permit nights land.
Lunch Lake sits on a short spur, which matters when you are comparing a direct divide day with a basin-focused camp plan.
There are very few campsites and little water between Heart Lake and Deer Lake, so the middle of the loop does not flex as much as the map suggests.
Check current trail conditions before travel; snow above Bogachiel Peak can linger into mid-July and change whether an early booking is realistic.
The route is moderate by Olympic backpacking standards until snow or fog turns the divide into a more serious navigation and footing problem.
When High Divide is still snow covered, the traverse around Bogachiel Peak can require ice axe skills and a much slower pace than the mileage suggests.
The basin camps are heavily used, and the legal overnight anchors are more constrained than a simple loop map makes them look.
Recommended gear
What to carry for this route
Bear canister
required throughout the High Divide Loop area
Waterproof layers + warm backup layer
Trekking poles
helpful on the climb to the divide and the long descent back to Sol Duc
Traction or ice axe plan for early season
important if snow still lingers on the high traverse
Water treatment
treat lake and stream water all along the loop
Current trail report
snow, washouts, and closures can change the best direction fast
Live permit availability
See what is open before you set the tracker.
This is a compact, current snapshot for the dates and route filters that matter to this trip. It is built from the projection-backed live availability table so the details page stays fast while still showing useful signal.
Showing route-relevant areas: Canyon Creek #1, Canyon Creek #2, Canyon Creek #3 + 5 more
Currently availableNot currently openNo recent snapshot
Trip FAQ
Common planning questions
Why are Heart Lake, Lunch Lake, Deer Lake, and Sol Duc Park so important on this loop?
Because those designated camps are the nights that usually make the mileage work. Seven Lakes Basin demand is concentrated enough that one missing camp can force a completely different direction or trip length.
Can I rely on an early-season High Divide booking if permits are technically released?
Not always. Olympic releases summer dates on April 15, but the practical High Divide season depends on snow cover along the divide, especially around Bogachiel Peak and the basin traverse.
