Mount Ellinor
6 days ago
Snowfields to cross, icy patches
5 this month · 157 reports
Home Lake
Olympic Peninsula
updated 1 month ago
Today, October 10, 2026, conditions for Home Lake are generally good with no snow reported. The trail itself has minor obstacles like a few downed trees that are easily navigable, with reports from September 14 and August 8 noting these are not significant issues. However, the access road presents a notable challenge. As of October 5, the last 4-5 miles of the road to the trailhead are described as having major potholes and are recommended for high clearance vehicles only, averaging 3-5 mph. Earlier reports from September 14 and August 29 indicated the road was suitable for all vehicles, suggesting a recent deterioration in road conditions. Home Lake itself has a significant algae bloom, noted in multiple reports since August 9, with one report from October 5 suggesting this may be due to hiker impact. Parking at the Upper Dungeness trailhead was nearly full by noon on August 7, and reports suggest it can be challenging to find parking, especially on weekends.
Generated from 16 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Home Lake
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 1 month ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
No trip reports on this trail in 1 month, so everything below is at least that old.
The road to the trailhead has significantly deteriorated. As of October 5, the last 4-5 miles are described as having major potholes and are recommended for high clearance vehicles only. This is a recent change from earlier reports in August and September which stated the road was suitable for all vehicles.
The trail is generally in good condition with only minor obstacles. Reports from October 5 and September 14 mention a few downed trees, but they are all easily crossable and do not cause significant delays.
Parking at the Upper Dungeness trailhead can be very limited. As of August 7, the lot was nearly full by noon, and reports suggest it can be overflowing, with some people parking on the side of the forest road for miles back. It is advisable to arrive early, especially on weekends.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Older1 month ago
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
I did a two night/three day trip up the Dungeness River to Home Lake with a day trip over Constance Pass to Sunnybrook Meadows and Delmonte Ridge. The last 4-5 miles of the road before the trailhead w...
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
Did a multi-night backpack of the Upper Dungeness/Dosewallips areas staying at Sunnybrook Meadows, Deception Creek, and in Deception Creek Basin/Upper Royal Basin (cross-country permit). I came down H...
Older2 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
Overnight to Home Lake, starting and ending at the Upper Big Quilcene TH, with side trip(s) to Del Monte Ridge.First, I could not get over the great condition of the trails. Zero brush and maybe 2 blo...
Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast
This was a 7 day Olympic traverse from Irely Lakes Trailhead via Big Creek and the Skyline Trails, through Low Divide to the Elwha, over Hayden pass down the Dosewallips to Constance Pass, past Home L...
Older3 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
Hiked to Camp Mystery on a Sunday so lots of folks were leaving and we were able to get a site pretty easily. Sites filled up on Monday. Bugs at the camp were mostly mayflies so annoying but not a pro...
Older3 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
What an incredible weekend in the Olympics for a #HikeaThon overnight! Like many others, I headed west given the fires and smoke across WA. I decided to approach Home Lake via the Tubal Cain Trail sin...
Older3 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
Did a one-nighter at Home lake near Constance pass. Started from the Tubal Cain trailhead and saw the B-17 crash site which was really cool. Hit a couple of the mines and went up to Buckhorn pass, the...
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
Sometimes you have to go touch grass and remember you enjoy being outside. Home Lake & Marmot Pass scratched that itch.The trail is in immaculate condition the entire way, with a small degrade of trea...
Older3 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
The road to Upper Dungeness is rough. Recommend a higher clearance vehicle like a Subaru or small truck at a minimum. Trail is in good condition, with WTA volunteers working on the trail when I passed...
Older4 months ago
Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal
Up and over Marmot Pass to Boulder Shelter on Friday night; dayhike from Boulder to Home Lake + Constance Pass Saturday morning before hiking out in the afternoon.The trails are all in good condition,...