Today, freshwater Lake Crescent [1], 624 feet deep and 8.5 miles long, is famous for its Beardslee trout, a subspecies that is large (some are in the 12–14 pound range) and a hard fighter when hooked. Swimming, boating, camping, picnicking, and, of course, fishing are popular lake activities. The lake has an impressive mountain-rimmed setting. The Park Service’s Storm King Ranger Station (360/928-3380) is staffed during the summer months.
The nonprofit Olympic Park Institute (360/928-3720 or 800/775-3720, www.yni.org/opi [2]) offers excellent hands-on field seminars covering such diverse topics as Makah basketry, ecology of the forest canopy, and wolf biology. Seminars last 2–5 days and some may be taken for college credit. They also have an Elderhostel.
Headquarters for the institute is the historic Rosemary Inn, near Lake Crescent Lodge [3]. Students stay in nearby cabins, and meals are served family style at the inn.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/washington/olympic-peninsula-and-the-coast/port-angeles-sol-duc/lake-crescent
[2] http://www.yni.org/opi
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/washington/olympic-peninsula-and-the-coast/port-angeles-sol-duc/lake-crescent/accommodations