月牙泉

Lake Crescent is a wonderful gem in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains on Washington’s Olympic peninsula. We stayed in the Marymere room; a quaint motel-style building on the far end of the lakeshore. The village is quaint with the Marymere room, separate stand-alone cabins, and the lodge as centerpieces. Several hiking trails are available a short walk from the lodge. Marymere Falls is a short, do-after-dinner with the kids trail that meanders through the old growth forest a short distance to the 90 foot waterfall. It is a crowded trail, so don’t expect solitude (or peace and quiet). If you are looking for a bit more adventure, try the Mt. Storm King Trail, which begins along the Marymere Falls Trail. Mt. Storm King is steep (gaining 1700 feet in the short 1.9 miles to the top) but is well worth the effort. The trail begins by climbing steadily out of the gorge, then skirts around to overlook Lake Crescent. Some wonderful views are available once you get up to the higher elevations. Be careful, some of the overlooks have sheer drops and could be dangerous if you are not careful.If you prefer to stay by the water, renting a canoe or kayak is a must. You can paddle across the lake and find hiking trails, or you can test your strength and paddle off toward the west into the horizon. You will be limited only by your level of determination. The lake is cold and deep, measuring over 620 deep at its greatest depth, and at times can be quite windy along the water.The room was clean, comfortable, and quiet. No TV. Feel free to sit along the lakeshore in the evening, or visit with your neighbors while sitting on the back porch. If you are lucky, a park ranger may be giving a talk around a campfire. Check at the front desk for times.The lodge is beautiful. It is quaint, and cozy, with an open sitting area around the fireplace to visit with new the new friends you have made. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. At peak season, it may be necessary to make a reservation. The only negative I can think of are the loud and seemingly out-of-control logging trucks that barrel along the road outside the park. Be ready for them to tailgate you like crazy if you aren’t at least 10 MPH north of the speed limit. Very aggressive and unreasonably fast drivers.

We just drove by it with one stop for a picture. It is very pretty and nice to look at while driving through the park along Hwy 101.

Beautiful, crystal clear and very blue water lake in the middle of the spectacular Olympic National Park. It was so quiet and serene, we loved just sitting and admiring the views with the surrounding mountains as a backdrop. Lovely and very picturesque! The ducks were happily swimming and the deer were grazing near the parking lot. We were here near sunset so unfortunately didn't have time to hike in the woods to the falls but it's on our agenda for the next visit!

The lake was so beautiful with mirror images like we had never seen before. We were even able to see a flock of eagles feed in the lake around some ducks who were also feasting. Probably the most memorable time of our vacation. It is a short drive from Port Angeles. The nice lady at the visitor's center was very helpful -- since we didn't have chains we couldn't get into other part of the park.

Lake crescent is one of natures most beautiful places. Nestled in Olympic national park is one of the most scenic places on earth. If you love nature you will love this place. Of course summer and early fall are the best times to visit if you want a better chance of good weather.

not a big fan of lakes, but water here is definitely really blue, which makes it perfect stop on your way to your next destination.

We were staying about 20 miles from lake crescent and found it so beautiful we went 2 days in a row! It is so picturesque and looked very different under overcast light and sunshine! The lake is very peaceful and has very little boating activity or even lodging (especially compared to Lake Sutherland nearby). In the right light, you can appreciate the beautiful aqua blue color of the lake and see all the way to the bottom! You can rent canoes and even grab a meal at Lake Crescent Lodge or just walk around and enjoy the scenery. Theres also a trailhead for Marymere Falls near the lodge and you can park in the lodge lot of the other one a little more east. Even if you dont stop, make sure you make the drive on Hwy 101 to see it as youre making your way to the beach. You can get great views right off the road!

Beautiful lake, lovely lodge, great place to paddle a canoe or kayak. Interesting trail to Marymere Falls.

Was there for sunset. The skies were cloudy and foggy, with some light rain. Yet sun was shining through in some directions. This made for some interesting photos. I can’t imagine how spectacular the scenery would be from the lake viewpoints and from the lodge when there’s a beautiful sunset. The lodge looked wonderfully cozy inside. Nice Adirondack chairs along the water’s edge to soak in the views. Will have to come back again and stay here

So lovely. Of course, it would have been more lovely if not on the main highway and we had it to ourselves. But it's quiet easy to find an isolated little piece of shore to yourselves. Bring a picnic, a towel, find a rock, and settle in. The water is crystal clear and perfectly crisp and refreshing - it's just gorgeous.We didn't go to the lodge or the public beach, and liked it better that way. I'd bring what you need so you can avoid the crowds (and full parking lots) a bit more easily.

We were starving after leaving Cape Flattery and according to the policeman that pulled us over, Crescent Lake Lodge was a close location for us to get food. We come around a bend and there's this gorgeous lake in the middle of the mountains. There was one point where we could see three different colors in the water as well as a wonderful reflection of the trees. There are nice trails you can take around the southern part of the lake as well. This location might have been the 'coldest' that we were this trip. And that was about 55 degrees ;-)

In many ways similar to Flathead Lake if you've been to that area of Montana. Lovely, photogenic, not busy this time of year (October).

Step back in time.... gorgeous spot! Next time we are here, we plan to stay in one of the cottages (dog-friendly). We enjoyed our short visit, walked around the lakeshore, and checked out the main lodge and cottage area, and relaxed lakefront for a while. Even if you can't stay at the lodge, this is a great spot for a picnic.

It has a very special feeling about it. The waters are clear and blue, the surrounding hills tall and green. I feel utterly at peace here.

Crescent Lake is beautiful, but on a sunny day, it is amazing! The blues of the water are fabulous and something you don't see everywhere. Well worth a visit!