The Ultimate Guide To Olympic National Park
Located in northwestern Washington, Olympic National Park encompasses diverse ecosystems, ranging from the dramatic mountain peaks of the Olympic Mountains to pristine rain forests. Olympic National Park is really awe-inspiring and offers a unique combination of geographical features all found in one place, including glacier-capped mountains peaks, around 60 miles long Pacific coastline, and warm old rain forests.
Address: 3002 Mt Angeles Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98362 Entrance Fee: Private, non-commercial vehicle – $30
Must see in Olympic National Park
Hurricane Ridge: It offers some remarkable views, has numerous hiking trails, and in winter, it is popular for skiing and sledding. Popular hiking trails: (1) the half-mile round-trip Big Meadow trail, flat and paved, crosses open meadows with views of the Olympics. (2) The mile-long roundtrip Cirque Rim, paved trail, offering views of Port Angeles. (3) The Klahhane Ridge trail, challenging and 3.8 miles each way.
Hoh Rain Forest: On the west side of Olympic National Park, is this rich green wonderland, mosses, and ferns covering every tree, is a one-of-a-kind experience. The Hoh Rain Forest receives around 160 inches of annual rainfall and is one of the few surviving temperate rainforests in the US. There is a visitor center and two short trails, looping through the forest (1) the Hall of Mosses Trail (.8 miles) and (2) the Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 miles). This is a must-do in Olympic National Park!
Kalaloch and Ruby Beach
Kalaloch and Ruby Beach: Located on the southwest side of the Olympic Peninsula, it is one of the most sought-after tourist attractions in the Olympic National Park. The beach is home to some very unique rock formations, beautiful driftwoods, thousands of marine species, and several sea birds. The Kalaloch and Ruby Beach draws a lot of visitors and is really awe-inspiring!
Lake Crescent
Located in the northern foothills of Olympic National Park, is this gorgeous Glacier carved lake. Lake Cresent, known for its crystal clear bluish-green water, tranquility, is it a top-rated destination in the park. There are boat launches and boat rentals available at the lake. It’s also home to several hiking trails, Marymere Falls being the most popular.
Mora and Rialto Beach
It offers beautiful coastal scenery and is a great place to spot sea lions, seals, otters, whales, and other seabirds.
The Sol Duc Valley
Sol Duc Valley, located towards the northwest part of the Olympic National Park, is famous for the hiking trail leading to the Sol Duc Falls overlook through the old-growth forest.
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I hope you enjoyed reading the post, The Ultimate Guide To Olympic National Park, hope this will help you plan your trip to the Olympic National Park. It was a wonderful experience for me.
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