Crystal Clear Kayaking Paradise! Exploring Lake Crescent’s Hidden Gems

Crystal Clear Kayaking Paradise! Exploring Lake Crescent’s Hidden Gems

we are at Lake Crescent in Washington State today it’s a beautiful Friday morning and conditions are really tranquil we’ve got almost no wind lake is beautifully clear you can see three kayakers out there in the middle and we’re going to head up the shore here to the right and then along the the southshore of the lake to Devil’s Punch Bowl over to the main lodge should get some spectacular scenery it’s just so pristine with all these forests [Music] the water is actually not too cold which is surprising because we’re in the Olympic National Forest here and it’s only late May so I would have expected it to be way colder that’s a good temperature for a swim this water is absolutely incredibly clear i think the only other place we’ve seen water this clear is Kachis Lake in the North Cascades but sadly that’s part of a Yakama irrigation scheme and that lake hasn’t been full for years is it’s only running at about 60% even after all the spring runoff we’re staying in these shalets the one on the end on that side right on the water really beautiful this is Log Cabin Resort they have those chalets they have camping here on the right several campsites RV sites as well with water and electric there’s a dump station and there’s a a proper lodge back behind us that has I think rooms around it too right there’s a few rooms by the lodge and then they have breakfasts and lunch and dinner i like this property
yeah there’s quaint little cabins all along the shore yeah beautiful lot you know gently sloping grass down to the water and it’s mostly mostly sandy bottom here i think it’s an ornamental lighthouse oh yeah look at the tiny chicks they’re jumping out of the water we’re paddling our favorite kayaks today 16 ft touring kayaks with dual bulkheads and rudders perfect for these sheltered flatwater conditions so according to the AI this lake is uh formed during the glacial period and there’s no dam on it it’s a natural lake i hear running water at the end here this is the northern point of the lake one thing that really hits you paddling on this lake is just the clarity of the water it’s got that sort of turquoise look to it in the sun from glacial [Music] and Karen and I saw fish jumping in the lake from the shoreline there near the cottages was supposed to be good for fishing although I haven’t seen any fish i’m probably in deeper water yeah so you could see the the road there going around the north point of the lake and then we’re actually going to do a bike ride uh we’ll ride up there along that road and then there’s a a rail to trail there’s an old railroad on the north side of the lake called the Spruce Railroad it was made during the First World War to harvest the spruce trees so they could make more planes but since then they’ve converted it into a a bike trail you know walking jogging whatever oh beautiful big eagle in the trees there [Music] so as I said about the Spruce Railroad we’re going to take an ebike ride along it uh tomorrow i believe it’s eight or nine miles long should be incredible just look at the incredible color of this water it’s like a It’s a slate blue you can see the trees lying on the bottom i would guess that the visibility is probably 50 to 100 ft so we’re now along the north shore of the lake and just in there is the Spruce Railroad Trail and pretty soon we’re going to come up for a very special uh viewpoint called the Devil’s Punch Bowl it’s a highly rated attraction here on the lake sometimes you see the most interesting plants growing out of these floating logs when Karen and I were paddling on Orcus Island there’s a a lake called Mountain Lake and we saw these spoon leaf sundue plants which are actually carnivorous plants i haven’t seen that particular plant here but I’ll put a link to that video really interesting it feels like you’re gliding on air hey look at this clarity spectacular one thing you don’t see on this lake is u big stumps below the surface cuz it’s not man-made i mean this lake has been here since glacial times whereas Kachis Lake you know there are stumps because they’ve built a dam and flooded it within the last I don’t know 100 years or so what a spot
yes this looks like a really good picnic site and
if you’re doing that spruce trail good swimming spot do you see that tunnel there okay so the Spruce Railroad goes through a tunnel right there you can see the
Oh yeah entrance to it
oh you can see several more kayakers over there and you can actually rent kayaks from the uh Logan Resort that we’re staying at you can actually see the A-frames way back there but they have a a dock and you know kayak rentals they actually do bike rentals as well for the trail here but then there’s the even bigger lodge on the southshore of the lake we’ll see it as we go around this corner i think you can also rent boats there oh is this devil’s punch bowl cool
it’s kind of small it is smaller than I expected but it’s very pretty probably a nice swimming hole looks really deep you think I can imagine somewhat comfortable but you could feel all the wild flowers growing up on the side there yeah definitely a great swimming hole look how deep it is you probably jump right off that bridge although it’s pretty cold it’ll be like a race to get out as quickly as you can heat heat [Music] okay so as we pass the the corner up ahead we should see the main lodge area and Karen and I are going to shoot across there and have a a little picnic lunch and sit in the sun and maybe have a swim we’re really taking the whole day just relaxing paddle along the sides of the lake it’s actually a really large lake we won’t even cover the whole section of it uh we’ll probably do about half of it there’s some more kayakers they look like they may have come from the lodge area the main lodge I mean [Music] [Applause] at these huge boulders under the surface that must have rolled down here during a landslide so at this point up ahead Karen and I are going to take a left turn and shoot across the lake the crossing here is about uh just under half a mile and the conditions look perfect and we’re going to head over there to where the main lodge is and just go along that shore that’s the southshore of the lake should be some cool stuff to see and some nice beaches to pull up on for a picnic lunch and a swim maybe definitely feel like I could use a swim now it’s pretty warm temperatures are about probably in the 70s already very light breeze maybe one or two knots it’s really perfect just enough to prevent you from overheating so we’re heading towards the south side of the lake and straight ahead I think that’s the main lodge and that is the west inlet heading just past Karen there we’re not going to go all the way up there but you could take a day trip all the way up there i mean there’s a whole other day trip there at the end of that inlet is the Fairome Campground so it’s another whole campground if you want to camp on the lake i think the main lodge is down this way there’s multiple nature trails that run along the shore here and you know beaches to stop at i think these trails actually go to the the main lodge just up ahead nice for a day trip look at all these fish there’s a huge school of fish amazing fish
yeah there’s a huge school of fish and a big one came up and then they all scattered like I think a predator fish was
Yeah you can see some of the accommodations of the main lodge there definitely plenty of kayak rentals and looks like paddle board rentals as well if you didn’t bring your own this is the main main lodge right here near the dock [Applause] what perfect conditions for a paddle though eh
i know really beautiful
so cool to be able to pull up on the beach right by the main lodge here you don’t have to worry about the tide here
jesus Patty seat cushions perfect we’ve even got a bit of sun [Music] okay that’s pretty cool oh yeah refreshing
what was notable about the paddle for you k the clear water how you could see down and just the beautiful
turquoise color yeah stunning blue color
very calm conditions and for birds we saw lots of ducks and eagles swallows canada geese
oh yeah they’re everywhere but yeah it was really fun paddling along the shore we saw fish uh salamanders coming up to the surface which was very unusual i didn’t know they did that
deer on the
deer plenty of deer yeah but quite calm actually nestled in these mountains obviously you don’t need to worry about the tide no currents but uh I think the wind can come up sometimes so it’s good to watch it today it was perfect you know day i don’t think it’s going above four knots today but yeah I think the total distance round trip from Log Cabin Resort to here and then back is it’s about 7 mi i’ll check the exact but
okay it’s a great day trip but
it’s good
you could if you were staying here you could do a separate day trip all the way up there there’s a another campsite up the the west end there called Fair Home Campsite at the end of the inlet yeah I’m excited to try the bike trail tomorrow
yeah me too that’s going to be great [Music]

Our paddles dipped into the unbelievably clear turquoise water of Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park, and just like that, our adventure began. Setting off from the charming log cabin resort, nestled right at the water’s edge, the morning air was crisp and full of promise. Our first destination? The legendary Devil’s Punchbowl.

We followed the gentle outflow where Lake Crescent meets the Lyre River, and then hugged the northern shoreline. The anticipation built as we paddled towards that famous deep-water swimming hole. The stories of its mysterious depths definitely held a captivating allure.

Continuing our journey, we traced the route of the historic Spruce Railroad Trail, the dense forest a vibrant green backdrop to the stunning blue of the lake. Then came the exhilarating open water crossing – about half a mile stretching between us and the iconic Lake Crescent Lodge. Each stroke brought us closer, and the view back towards where we started was simply breathtaking, framed by the towering mountains.

Pulling our kayaks onto the small beach at the main lodge felt like arriving at a tranquil oasis. We basked in the warm sunshine, the gentle lapping of the water our soundtrack. A refreshing swim in that unbelievably clear water was an absolute must, followed by a well-deserved picnic lunch with a view that could hardly be beat.

What truly stole our hearts on this trip was the sheer clarity of the glacial water. It honestly felt like our kayaks were floating on air! Looking down, the visibility was astonishing – I swear we could see at least 100 feet to the bottom. We spotted massive boulders, submerged logs, and even the occasional fish and curious salamander making their way to the surface. It was like paddling over a giant, pristine aquarium.

Nature’s beauty was on full display all around us. We kept an eye out for wildlife and were rewarded with sightings of majestic American Bald Eagles soaring overhead, playful ducks including Common Mergansers gliding by, and little sparrows flitting amongst the trees. Along the shoreline, we were lucky enough to see several deer peacefully grazing in the meadows – a truly magical sight.

Our round trip, from the cozy log cabin resort to the grand main lodge and back, clocked in at around 7 miles (or 11 kilometers). We started our day around 10 AM and were back in the early afternoon. All in all, it was a perfect 3-4 hour escape, though you could easily spend longer soaking in the beauty at the lodge. This day trip on Lake Crescent was an absolute highlight, a testament to the pristine beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and an adventure we won’t forget!

#kayak #kayaking #lakekayaking #fpv #asmr #nature #naturevideo #naturevideos #peaceful #relaxing #relaxingvideos #relaxingvideo #washingtonstate #washingtonspirit

Mountain Lake, Orcas Island: https://youtu.be/fcK71XlM5jA

⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Intro

Map Locations
🔗 Log Cabin Resort (launch): https://maps.app.goo.gl/DkYJyDoxzygCH7nc6
🔗 Devil’s Punchbowl: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XvFLmursGUH7Ldgr8
🔗 Main Lodge: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sg1sjY1iAaHPikfU6

Playlists
🔗 Peaceful, Relaxing Kayaking in 4K UHD – Paddling and Nature Sounds – Beautiful Natural Scenery : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2Dtn1PW4brsnrPTP3TU3lXblOVfuBkh
🔗 Kayaking in the Pacific Northwest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2Dtn1PW4bpv4ne8tPiwGslt3guDhBOe
🔗 Lake Kayaking in the Pacific Northwest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2Dtn1PW4bpOvx6fvENrbi7ZGGK7a-ga
🔗 Sea Kayaking in the Pacific Northwest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2Dtn1PW4bqEM-SfDfHRaYGatY8_q3tX
🔗 Best of San Juan Island: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2Dtn1PW4bqsan7z8Fg6QYl4Bs8LXSIv
🔗 Best of Anacortes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2Dtn1PW4bqkhaveoKnTXhS3o6w8Tj1a
🔗 Best of Orcas Island: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2Dtn1PW4bqj3RTpHvpjcePLrsxHks0H
🔗 Biking Adventures Near Seattle: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2Dtn1PW4bqTiBIXDzhL0Nh3Su6iqNlY
🔗 Adventures in the Pacific Northwest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2Dtn1PW4bqdURIt79Ljydn3t-pSoW2O

Music
✅ Cielo – Huma-Huma https://youtu.be/tPslRbUAWJQ

Inquiries
✅ PresenceVideography@gmail.com