Olympic National Park

Hoh Rain Forest, Hurricaine Ridge, deserted beaches with dramatic sunsets, camping in the many of the outstanding campgrounds, Sol Duc Hot Springs, beautiful Lake Crescent. There are so many interesting things to see in this national park.

Quick Tips:

Raingear is a must in this part of the country as the average rainfall averages about 140' a year. That's what makes this place SO beautiful. Don't miss hiking through a rain forest for sights you'll remember forever.

Best Way To Get Around:

A car or camping vehicle of some sort is necessary to really see all of this wonderland. Bus tours are available during the summer and the Washington State Ferries serve the area.

Here you can choose from a rustic, one-room log cabin which shares a bathhouse with others or a room at the lodge with a private bath. The area surrounding the lake provides a beautiful setting for this unique old lodge and resort. A great place to relax as there are no TVs or phones in the rooms. Just bring a good book.

Pacific Northwest salmon is a wonderful choice here. We found the entire dinner to be delicious and well-prepared. The view of the lake from the dining area is spectacular, making the entire experience one to remember.

Located on the west side of the mountains, this is a picturesque rain forest complete with nurse logs, ferns, huge moss-covered sitka spruce, western red cedar and western hemlock towering overhead. The ground is covered with trillium, salmonberry and maidenhair ferns along with many other plants. The Hall of Mosses Trail takes you through a part of the forest as an introduction to the area. It's really spectacular.

The campground is nice and if you watch carefully, during the evening hours huge elk roam the area and racoons wander about. The trail to Elk Lake is a wonderful hike and can be done in one day. It wanders up through the forest to the lake and then further to the top of the ridge and here you will see the change of vegetation from 'west to east.' We found this very interesting. If you have more time, you can continue on to Glacier Meadows.The glacier is one of the six glaciers on the slopes of Mt. Olympus.

Some of the best views of the glacier-covered peaks in the park are seen from Hurricane Ridge. Spectacular wildflowers cover the high mountain meadows during the summer months. A trail from the visitors center takes you through the meadows where you'll experience views of the surrounding mountains. The visitors center provides information about the area along with a decent snack bar.