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Exploring Olympic National Park
There are three very distinct portions of Olympic National Park:
along the rocky Pacific Ocean coast, glacial mountains that dominate
the Olympic peninsula, and the temperate rainforests that fill the
valleys with old-growth forests. Any single area would provide enough
hiking and photographs to fill a national park, here the chance to see
all three in a single trip is sensory overload.
Over 90 percent of Olympic National Park is designated wilderness
area. Although there are a few roads, to explore the park fully you
must leave your vehicle behind and travel on foot. As a reward,
pristine windswept beaches, moss draped towering trees, and the alpine
meadows home to unique flora and fauna will be yours to discover in
solitude.
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Pacific Coast |
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Roughly 70 miles of Pacific coastline is contained within Olympic
National Park. Each section of beach is unique – broad sandy dunes,
tidepools and crashing waves, and 100-foot cliffs tumbling into the
ocean. Almost all the coastline is open for hiking and backpacking,
but a tide table is a necessity. Many hikers have found themselves
stranded against the cliffs when the tide comes in. From south to
north, the three ranger stations along the coast are the sandy
Kalaloch, rocky Mora, and Lake Ozette.
- Kalaloch – A long, broad, and sandy beach stretching between the
Quinault and Hoh Rivers. Nine beach access points up to Abbey Island
and the beautiful Ruby Beach are all worth visiting.
- Mora – Guarding the access to Rialto Beach, numerous trails
heading both north and south start here. For those not camping at the
90+ campsites, a 1.5 mile hike along the sandy beach north to
Hole-in-the-Wall is a great short excursion.
- Lake Ozette – Several miles off the coast, Ozette Lake offers
primitive campsites and boat ramps on the lake, and boardwalks and
trails to the coast. The beaches here are very rugged and
unmaintained, but proper footwear allows you to explore preserved
northwest culture as well as the forests and beaches.
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Olympic Forests |
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The Olympic Mountains to the east catch and filter the constant ocean
moisture, resulting in a temperate rainforest of unparalleled beauty.
Gigantic trees, moss and fern covered ravines, and Roosevelt Elk are
just a few of the marvels to explore in this area.
The west side valleys enjoy over 12 feet of rain a year, so come
prepared to get a little wet. Giant western hemlocks and Sitka spruce
are a few of the tree species that grow to record heights here, and
many are within an easy hike.
- Hoh River – Following the Hoh River from the forested visitor
center west for 18 miles to the source of the Hoh, the Blue Glacier
trail leads to the base of Mount Olympus.
- Hall of Mosses – This short loop traverses a grove of old-growth
forest near the Hoh River Visitor Center.
- Quinault Lake – Several campground and lodges border this glacial
melt lake. Short hikes around the lake include a 0.2 mile walk to the
largest cedar in the United States. The southwestern extent of the
park, Quinault Lake is the portal for miles of trails leading into the
mountains.
On the north and east side of the park, lowland forests are drier
than their western cousins, but no less lush. Extensive old-growth
forests leading to subalpine wildflower meadows are studded with some
of the best trails in the park.
- Staircase – On the west end of Lake Cushman, numerous hikes from
under a mile to over twenty miles access forested lakes like
Wagonwheel and Flapjack, and the entire north fork of the Skokomish
River.
- Heart O’the Hills – Just south of the park headquarters in Port
Angeles, and boasting numerous campsites, highlights of this
old-growth forest include a 3,350 foot climb to wildflower meadows
around Heather Park.
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Olympic Mountains |
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The Olympic peninsula forms a bulls-eye, with the surrounding coast
and forests centering on more than 600 square miles of alpine ridges,
glaciers, and rugged peaks. Wind-sculpted subalpine forests stand in
contrast to the giant trees found at lower elevations. Most of the
mountains are difficult to reach even during summer months, but an
extensive trails system rewards hikers and backpackers with immense
panoramas.
- Hurricane Ridge – South of Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge is the
park’s winter destination, and the most reliably accessible mountain
destination in the Olympic Mountains. Perched on the top of a
windblown mountain, trails depart from here into the park.
- Deer Park – Accessible only in the summer, this steep ridge
traverses the rain shadow of the Olympics and is a great starting
point for a backpacking trip in the northeastern park of the park.
Road closed to RVs and trailers.
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