Cat Basin Primitive

Name: Cat Basin Primitive
Rating: 3.0

Olympic Peninsula > Northern Coast

47.9560, -123.8379 Map & Directions

Length: 5.0 miles, one-way
Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet
Highest Point: 5,500 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty: Moderate

The road to the trailhead is closed due to water line repairs.

Wildflowers/Meadows
Ridges/passes
Wildlife
Mountain views
Lakes
Fall foliage

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

National Park Pass

Permits Required

Backcountry camping permit. Register in person at ranger station (no fee)

Saved to My Backpack

This primitive trail forms a partial loop, connecting the High Divide trail just above Heart Lake with Appleton Pass. Continue reading

Rating

3.00 out of 5

(5 votes) Log in to rate

17 trip reports for this trail

Write a trip report

Hiking Cat Basin Primitive

This primitive trail can be accessed from either Sol Duc trailhead or from Boulder Creek/Appleton Pass trailhead above the Elwha. It is used as a starting point for the Bailey Range Traverse and also to access Cat Basin and Cat Lake (aka Swimming Bear Lake). The trail forms a partial loop connecting the High Divide trail just above Heart Lake with Appleton Pass.

The trail is fairly well defined for the most part, with a few notable confusing areas (see photos below) and a few areas. There are sections where the trail is overgrown, steep or eroded and other sections where it's difficult to see.

Cat Basin Primitive

Map & Directions

Trailhead

Co-ordinates: 47.9560, -123.8379 Open in Google Maps