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| Hoh Rain Forest |
Olympic National Park is located in the state of Washington on the Olympic Peninsula. It was declared a National Monument in 1909 and later a National Park in 1938. In comparison to other National Parks, Olympic is quite diverse in that it offers visitors three completely different areas to explore including glacier-capped mountains, temperate rainforests, and Pacific coastline. The park is a massive 1,406 square miles so if you are a first time visitor, who wants to see as many of the major sights as possible, then you'll need to dedicate at least three full days, if not longer. Fortunately, the park has remained nearly untouched by humans so visitors will be able to experience trees that are more than 1000 years old, enjoy clear glacial lakes, and partake in limitless hiking opportunities. Outside of the park but within the Olympic Peninsula there are even more impressive things to do and see, several of which will be detailed further below.
I have visited Olympic National Park and the Olympic Peninsula on countless occasions since my childhood. Even with all of those visits under my belt there are still a few areas of the park that I have yet to see including Ozette Lake, Kalaloch, Ruby Beach, and Staircase.
Below are descriptions of all of the areas that I have visited within and just outside the boundaries of Olympic National Park including:
- Hurricane Ridge
- Lake Crescent
- Marymere Falls
- Salt Creek County Park
- Sol Duc Hot Springs
- Makah Museum
- Cape Flattery
- Shi Shi Beach
- Hoh Rain Forest
- La Push
- Rialto Beach
- Lake Quinault
- Sequim
- Dungeness Spit
- Olympic Game Farm
- Lavender Festival
- Port Townsend
- Fort Worden State Park
- Point Wilson Lighthouse
Hurricane
Ridge:
Located within the
Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge rises over 5,200 feet and provides amazing views of the park and, on a
very clear day, a glimpse of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There are many hiking trails that visitors can enjoy in this area of the park. Unfortunately, all of my visits to date have occurred on cloudy days which have prohibited the aforementioned views. If it's a cloudy day I would recommend skipping this viewpoint.
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| Hurricane Ridge |
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| Hurricane Ridge |
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| Hurricane Ridge |
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| Hurricane Ridge |
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| Hurricane Ridge |
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| Hurricane Ridge |
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| Hurricane Ridge |
Lake
Crescent:
Located within Olympic National Park, beautifully brilliantly blue Lake Crescent is one of the deepest lakes in the country. It is well known for its clear water which is the result of a lack of nitrogen and helps to prohibit algae growth. The lake is quite large and there are various areas to stay around the lake including campgrounds, cabins, and lodges. My father camped here all the time as a child and has fond memories of the peaceful lake, which I remember him discussing when I was a child. Unfortunately I didn't get the opportunity to visit myself until my mid-twenties, but I was very impressed by the beauty of Lake
Crescent, especially during the early morning hours and late evenings when gleaming
reflections would cover the gorgeous lake.
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| The clear waters of Lake Crescent. |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| Lake Crescent |
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| A rainbow sunset at Lake Crescent. |
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| A rainbow sunset at Lake Crescent. |
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| Sunset at Lake Crescent |
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| Sunset at Lake Crescent |
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| Sunset at Lake Crescent |
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| Sunset at Lake Crescent |
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| Moonlit Lake Crescent |
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| Moonlit Lake Crescent |
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