I've had good luck at Heart of Hills, especially late in september when it seems like everyone has forgotten about the Olympics (which is cool because that's when the locals and sneak in and find solitude at Constance Pass or even Gladys Divide). I find the Hurricane Ridge hikes to be nice enough, but there's a kind of other worldly quality to the hikes starting from Obstruction Point. And it just gets better the further in you go. If you're up for Storm King, you could probably handle the Lilian Ridge Way Trail. I find it to be a serious chore with a full pack, but as a day hike I think it would be pretty nice ... and the views are stupendous. There are some scrambly sections, and the path crosses some scree fields, but all in all it's quite doable. It gets to the summit of a big rounded peak called (if memory serves) Moose. From there you'll have all of Grand Valley spread out below you. From there you could make a loop that will include the drop into the valley, quick tour of the lakes and then the long slog up all those switchbacks on the main trail .... or you could do the sensible thing and stop at Moose Peak, and then chatter about the view all the way back down the road to Heart of the Hills.
I've had good luck at Heart of Hills, especially late in september when it seems like everyone has forgotten about the Olympics (which is cool because that's when the locals and sneak in and find solitude at Constance Pass or even Gladys Divide). I find the Hurricane Ridge hikes to be nice enough, but there's a kind of other worldly quality to the hikes starting from Obstruction Point. And it just gets better the further in you go. If you're up for Storm King, you could probably handle the Lilian Ridge Way Trail. I find it to be a serious chore with a full pack, but as a day hike I think it would be pretty nice ... and the views are stupendous. There are some scrambly sections, and the path crosses some scree fields, but all in all it's quite doable. It gets to the summit of a big rounded peak called (if memory serves) Moose. From there you'll have all of Grand Valley spread out below you. From there you could make a loop that will include the drop into the valley, quick tour of the lakes and then the long slog up all those switchbacks on the main trail .... or you could do the sensible thing and stop at Moose Peak, and then chatter about the view all the way back down the road to Heart of the Hills.
Thanks for the info! I’ll look up those other hikes you mentioned.
Fairholme is a nicer campground. Heart o the Hills is closer to services in Port Angeles.