A Perfect Day at Lake Crescent: Pastries, Waterfalls and Dinner at Yodelin
If a friend gave us one day in Olympic National Park and asked us to plan it, this is the day we'd hand them. It starts with the best pastries in Port Angeles, wanders out to a turquoise lake and a mossy waterfall, and ends back in town with groceries in the trunk and dinner at our favorite table. Nothing about it is rushed, and it works just as well for a couple as it does for a big family with grandparents and little kids.
The day at a glance: Buena Luz Bakery → Lake Crescent → Marymere Falls → lakeside picnic → Sol Duc Falls (optional) → Country Aire Natural Foods → dinner at Yodelin.
Morning · Coffee and pastries at Buena Luz Bakery
We'll say it plainly: Buena Luz is an absolute must. It's a small neighborhood bakery at 1105 S Eunice St, a few minutes from downtown, and the case is full of things that are hard to choose between. Get a cinnamon roll for the table, an egg-in-a-biscuit if you need something hearty before a hike, and a coffee for the drive.
Our tip: buy one more scone or pastry than you think you need and tuck it in your daypack. It tastes even better at the waterfall.
Mid-morning · Drive west to Lake Crescent
From town, follow Highway 101 west for about 25 to 30 minutes. The road drops down to the lake and suddenly there it is: deep blue-green water ringed by steep, forested mountains. Lake Crescent was carved by glaciers and is more than 600 feet deep, and the water is so clear that it looks turquoise even on gray Pacific Northwest mornings.
Pull in at the Storm King Ranger Station, which is the trailhead for Marymere Falls. In summer, try to arrive early, because the lot fills up by late morning.
Late morning · Hike to Marymere Falls
Marymere is the perfect first hike in the park: short enough for any pace, but beautiful enough to feel like a real adventure.
Distance: about 1.8 miles round trip, with a gentle climb at the end
The walk: through a tunnel under the highway, under huge old-growth cedars and firs, across Barnes Creek on a footbridge, then up a short set of steps to the viewing platforms
The payoff: a roughly 90-foot waterfall pouring down a mossy rock wall. The upper platform has the classic head-on view.
Good for: kids, grandparents and anyone who wants a big view without a big hike
For strong hikers: Mount Storm King starts from the same trail. It climbs steeply to one of the best viewpoints on the peninsula, looking straight down on the lake. The last section is a rocky scramble with ropes, so turn around there if it doesn't feel right.
Midday · Picnic and a paddle on the lake
Head back to the lakeshore for lunch. The beach near Lake Crescent Lodge and the picnic areas along the south shore are lovely spots to spread out. In summer, you can rent kayaks or paddleboards at the lodge, and being out on that clear water is one of our favorite feelings in the whole park.
Brave swimmers can jump in, but fair warning: the water stays cold all year.
Afternoon · Keep going to Sol Duc Falls (optional)
If everyone still has energy, continue west and turn up Sol Duc Road. The drive winds through deep forest along the river, and the Sol Duc Falls trail is an easy 1.6-mile round trip through old-growth to a waterfall that splits into several channels and plunges into a narrow canyon. It's one of the most photographed spots in the park for good reason.
When the resort is open, you can finish with a soak at Sol Duc Hot Springs on your way out. From Sol Duc, plan on about an hour and 15 minutes back to Port Angeles.
Late afternoon · Pick up groceries at Country Aire Natural Foods
On your way back through town, stop at Country Aire Natural Foods at 200 W 1st St. It's a friendly, locally owned natural foods market with good produce, local treats and everything you need for tomorrow's breakfast at the house. It's the easiest way to stock up without a big supermarket run.
Our grocery list for the house: fruit and yogurt, good bread and butter, eggs, local coffee, snacks for tomorrow's drive and something sweet for after dinner.
Evening · Dinner at Yodelin, our favorite
Drop the groceries at the house, take a quick shower and head to Yodelin Broth Co. at 122 W Lauridsen Blvd. This is our personal favorite in Port Angeles, and we always get food here whenever we're in town. It's a cozy Pacific Northwest kitchen in a little storybook house, with string lights and a garden patio out front.
The kitchen is built around slow-simmered bone broth and whole-fish cooking. On one of our visits we shared a salmon bowl, a salmon salad and a bowl of their broth, and it was exactly what you want after a day outside: warm, generous and unfussy.
What to pack for this day
Layers and a rain jacket, even in summer
Comfortable shoes with some grip for wet trails
Swimsuit and a towel if you plan to paddle or soak
A picnic lunch, water and that extra pastry
A National Park pass for the Sol Duc entrance
Café and restaurant hours shift with the seasons, so check before you head out. For roads and trails, check current Olympic National Park conditions or call the road and weather hotline at (360) 565-3131 before you go.
Planning your stay? See our homes in Port Angeles. We'd love to host you.
With warmth, Kim & Gavin
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