Devil’s Punchbowl: Swimming in Lake Crescent on the Olympic Peninsula

Looking for more fabulous places on the Olympic Peninsula?
Drive up to Hurricane Ridge for a hike, discover an enchanting waterfall in the Sol Duc Valley, or walk to a secluded beach at the Lyre Conservation Area.
Check out my complete guide to exploring Lake Crescent for more adventures.

SWIM

Lake Crescent is blessed with some of the clearest water in Washington State. With a depth of over 600 feet, this sapphire jewel of the Olympic Peninsula glows with a deep blue intensity on a sunny day. Although Devil’s Punchbowl is located along the lakeshore, this underwater gorge plunges down over 100 feet! I’ve been unable to find a more accurate measurement for this spot, but suffice it to say, it’s deep. With this in mind, take extra care not to drop anything in the water. You won’t see it again, and we all want to keep this special place pristine.

It’s also a pretty popular spot, so don’t expect solitude when the sun is shining. We stayed for a few hours around mid-day on a Friday. The number of visitors ebbed and flowed, but it definitely got more crowded as the afternoon wore on. Sunny weekends can be packed. During our visit, the atmosphere was laid back and fun, but respectful. If you prefer a quieter experience, look for other small, rocky beaches that you can access from the Spruce Railroad Trail. They won’t have the amazing depth of Devil’s Punchbowl, but can still get you in the water.

As always, use caution when swimming. Keep a close eye on children, and have younger kids wear lifejackets. While the water is deep, cliff jumpers should proceed with care to avoid hitting any rocks on the way down or debris in the water.

The water in Lake Crescent, including Devil’s Punchbowl, is cold, but refreshing on a warm day. It’s a delight to swim in such clear water, surrounded by the forested foothills of the Olympic Mountains. A beautiful bridge spans the mouth of the punchbowl, and is a favorite jumping spot for swimmers. It’s not too high, and a lot more fun than it is scary. The sides of the punchbowl are steep, and climbing in and out can be tricky, not to mention slippery. Good water shoes can help you get a grip.

Daredevils can climb the steep cliff that overlooks Devil’s Punchbowl and plunge 30 feet into the liquid depths below. Do I recommend this? Let’s just say that cliff jumping is always at your own risk! We watched several cliff jumpers take the leap, but none of us dared try it, and that was just fine by me.

PADDLE

Lake Crescent is a paradise for paddlers! The waters are usually calm and the views are, naturally, incredible. To reach Devil’s Punchbowl by boat or paddle board, it’s easiest to launch from Log Cabin Resort. The resort is located off East Lake Road, about a mile before the Spruce Railroad Trail parking lot. You can bring your own boat or boards, or rent them from the resort. There isn’t enough space to launch a boat at Devil’s Punchbowl (besides, you’d have to lug your watercraft a mile down the trail), but it’s a fun place to check out if you’re paddling in this part of Lake Crescent.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Ample parking is available at the Spruce Railroad trailhead.
• Lake Crescent is located within Olympic National Park, so be sure to hang your America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass) in your car window. A receipt for the $30 entrance fee, which you can purchase from a park entrance station and is valid for seven days, also covers the parking fee.
• So, do you really have to pay to park at the Spruce Railroad Trailhead? On our visit, I didn’t see signage at the trailhead requiring payment, but a park ranger told me that a pass is required for all parking within Olympic National Park. Since many of the funds that support our national parks come from the sale of these passes, I encourage all who can afford a pass to purchase one.
• A vault toilet and garbage bins are available at the trailhead.
• Pets on leash are allowed on the Spruce Railroad Trail. It’s one of the only trails in Olympic National Park that is pet friendly.

• It’s a one-mile walk or bike ride along the Spruce Railroad Trail to reach Devil’s Punchbowl. The main trail is wide and paved, but the final approach to Devil’s Punchbowl follows a narrow, hilly path lined with poison oak (see below). Wear good shoes or hiking sandals, and stay on the trail. If you decide to bypass Devil’s Punchbowl, simply follow the main trail through an old railroad tunnel instead.
• Bring sunscreen, shade hats, towels, and water. There is shade along much of the trail and around the punchbowl, but the swimming hole can see a lot of sun.
• Space is tight around Devil’s Punchbowl and there’s not much privacy, so I recommend changing into your swimsuit ahead of time. We were happy to find a place for our picnic blanket near the lake despite the crowds.

POISON OAK

Why, hello there, old buddy! Yep, poison oak is plentiful around Devil’s Punchbowl. Perhaps that’s where the name came from…

In any case, keep an eye out. The oils produced by this noxious plant can cause severe itching and rashes if you come into contact with it. Avoid it by staying on trails, and don’t brush up against the plant life. For those unfamiliar with this infamous plant, I’ve included a photo above. You may have heard the saying, “leaves of three, let it be,” referring to the fact that poison oak leaves grow in groups of three. Leaves range in color from green to yellow to red. In winter, the leaves fall off, leaving behind bare sticks that are difficult to spot amidst the surrounding brush.

HIGHLIGHTS

It doesn’t get much better than a warm, sunny day on Lake Crescent. Heck, even a cold, misty day on Lake Crescent is magical, and you may have Devil’s Punchbowl to yourself. With unbeatable views framed by a graceful bridge, Devil’s Punchbowl draws swimmers, boaters, hikers, and photographers to its beauty.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Best swim ever! At least, that’s what 10-year-old J thought about Devil’s Punchbowl. He loved jumping from the bridge over and over. It’s just high enough to be fun without a big intimidation factor. Five-year-old T preferred to watch most of the action from the sidelines, although he did get in and swim a few times (while wearing his swim vest, of course).

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

It’s easy to spend an entire day on Lake Crescent. Plan extra time to hike or bike further along the Spruce Railroad Trail, stop by the Lake Crescent Lodge, or head to another beach, such as the one by Fairholme Campground. Looking to stay longer? Fairholme is a great place to camp, or you can book a cozy cabin at Log Cabin Resort. Paddlers can spend hours exploring the nooks and crannies of the lake. For a sweet treat, head east on Highway 101 to Granny’s Cafe, famous for its giant soft serve ice cream cones.

Of course, there is much to see and do here in Olympic National Park! Near Port Angeles, the drive up to Hurricane Ridge is stunning, and so are the ridgetop hikes. The Sol Duc Valley is another lovely area to visit, with a hot springs resort and a hike to an elegant waterfall. Heading to the coast? Check out the incredible Rialto Beach. For a low-key option, venture outside of Olympic National Park to the Lyre Conservation Area for a forested walk to a quiet beach on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

It was a sunny summer day on Lake Crescent, perfect weather for a swim. We left Fairholme Campground and headed east along the southern shore of the lake. This was new territory for us. We hadn’t been to Lake Crescent for years, and previous visits were spent on the south shore near Lake Crescent Lodge. This time, we pulled into a large parking lot at the end of East Lake Road. We had arrived at the Spruce Railroad Trailhead.

Someday, I hope to bike the Spruce Railroad Trail in its entirety, but today we had a different mission. We changed into our swimsuits and prepared to walk down the paved path to our destination: Devil’s Punchbowl. It’s amazing how much stuff we bring with us for a simple swim. I carried the beach bag filled with towels, sunscreen, and water bottles, bouncing it awkwardly against my legs. The rest of the family brought the picnic blanket, swim floaties, and a backpack stuffed with snacks and lunch. We would not go hungry!

Despite my clumsiness, I enjoyed the views from the trail. The Spruce Railroad Trail is pleasantly shady, winding through towering maples and evergreens. Occasional glimpses of Lake Crescent highlighted the magnificent beauty of the mountainous lake.

About a mile down the path, we came to an old railroad tunnel. For many years, this tunnel was completely closed off, but it was reopened following recent trail renovations. Just before the tunnel, a side path branches off toward Devil’s Punchbowl. J, eager to get to the swimming hole, headed immediately down the rocky path, while the rest of us wandered through the tunnel. It’s a short passage, and once on the other side, we found another trail leading to Devil’s Punchbowl from the opposite direction.

Now, before you go any further, a warning: the trail to Devil’s Punchbowl is quite literally lined with poison oak! One park ranger we spoke with later doesn’t even recommend going to Punchbowl because of it. I disagree; as long as you are aware of it and do not touch any plants, you should be fine. Fortunately, little if any poison oak grows in the immediate vicinity of the swimming hole, but I still recommend caution.

After admonishing T not to touch any plants, we made our way up and down the rough path to Devil’s Punchbowl. It only took a few minutes before a lovely bridge came into view, arcing elegantly across the mouth of a small cove. The water was a deep, iridescent blue, lightening to turquoise near the shore. A few kayakers milled around below the bridge, while a couple of swimmers floated happily near the cliffs. Despite the fact that Lake Crescent is startlingly clear, with visibility that sometimes exceeds 50 feet, the water here was so deep that it was impossible to see the bottom.

Michael and J walked gingerly along the outer edge of the bridge, eager to jump into the cold, clear water below. I approached the water in a more genteel fashion, slipping gradually into the lake from the shore. It was indeed cold, but I quickly adjusted. On a hot day, it felt just about perfect.

Perfect for everyone except T, that is. My five-year-old did get in a few times, but would soon clamber back onto shore, howling about the cold. He preferred to sit in his swim vest and goggles watching the others, but always prepared for a quick dip.

I found a semi-secluded spot along the lakeshore to set up our picnic blanket, and eventually managed to convince everyone to take a lunch break. Other groups mingled on the shore, chatting and watching the swimmers. We certainly weren’t alone, but Devil’s Punchbowl is more spacious than it appears at first glance. It’s easy to find a clear spot to jump from the bridge, and experienced swimmers will enjoy swimming under the bridge to the lake beyond. Being in the open water, completely surrounded by blue, felt incredible. Kayakers and paddlers meandered by, and everyone seemed happy to simply be on the water on such an idyllic day.

We were also entertained by the daring cliff jumpers who climbed the rocks high above Devil’s Punchbowl. It’s hard to judge the scale of these rocks, but I’d say the jumpers climbed to a height of at least 30 feet, to the area just visible in the upper right-hand corner of the photo above. I didn’t get a shot of one in action, but we were all suitably impressed. Michael enjoys a good cliff jump himself, but this was well beyond his comfort zone. Frankly, I was glad he was satisfied with jumping from a much lower ledge, a mere 10 to 15 feet above the water.

As for me, I’m happy just to swim and float. Well, I did finally give jumping off the bridge a try. After my initial shock, it was actually pretty fun! Fun enough to do it a few more times, in fact.

After a few hours, the Punchbowl started to feel a little more crowded, and we were ready to move on. We dried off, packed up, and headed back onto the Spruce Railroad Trail. Along the way, J and I stopped to explore one final spot that caught my eye. A few steps off the trail, a shallow rock shelf extended into the water, creating a rugged beach. It appeared to be a favorite stopping point for kayakers, who paddled across from nearby Log Cabin Resort. Not far from shore, a sailboat drifted by silently. We, too, stood in silent awe for a few moments before making our way back to the trail.

Back at the Spruce Railroad Trailhead, we packed up and were soon off on another adventure (but first, soft serve ice cream at Granny’s!). Lake Crescent abounds with beautiful places to swim and explore, and Devil’s Punchbowl was an incredible place to start.