The Lena Lake trail is in the Hamma Hamma river area on the SE side of the peninsula near Hood Canal. From 101, turn west on FS 25 for 7.5 miles to the trailhead. A NW forest pass is required.
The Lena Lake trial is apparently very popular, but I got there on a quiet day. The trail is broad and the grade is easy giving a gentle climb over many switchbacks over 3 miles to reach Lower Lena lake. Unfortunately, many of the users have created social trials to cut the switchbacks. The trail travels through a lovely forest, and the trees get bigger as you climb. There is a portion of Lena creek where the water runs underground. At a bridge over dry creekbed about two miles up, you can hear the water gushing just downhill and it is an easy scramble to see it suddenly begin emerging from beneath some big boulders.
Thanks to portlandhikers.com, I was able to recognize dog vomit fungus!
In no time, you reach the lovely Lena lake at 3.2 miles. It has many campsites and a composting toilet.
Once you reach the lake, you have two choices- either going NW to upper Lena lake, which is supposed to be a beautiful alpine setting, or NE up the east fork of Lena Creek on The Brother's trail. I chose the latter since it was starting to rain, and my hiking guide promised emerald pools and dancing cascades in a deep lush forest.
As soon as you get onto the Brothers trail, you enter the Brothers wilderness, the trail narrows to single track and becomes more rugged. This area is known as "The Valley of The Silent Men", and I felt like I was on the set of Lord of the Rings.
So much for the emerald pools, I found the creek was dry, but it was as if the spigot was turned off just yesterday!
 
I had a blast roaming around on this trail, went up about 2 miles before I turned back. There were some nice camping spots, and my guidebook said it ends at 3 miles with a large camp area mostly used by climbers preparing to ascend the Brothers peak. It was raining and misty, so I couldn't see the mountain, but I highly recommend this fun little trail!
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