Olympic National Park

Created in 1938 to protect the Roosevelt elk, primeval forest and wild coast, the park encompasses nearly one million acres. A few days of exploration take you from breathtaking mountain vistas with meadows of wildflowers to colorful ocean tidepools or early homestead cabins. Nestled in the valleys are some of the largest remnants of ancient forest left in the country. Trees can tower here 300 feet tall, and the forests range from the westside's lush temperate rain forest to dry, fire-shaped eastside forests. Olympic is like three magical parks in one. Take time to explore all of its faces. Wilderness Coast Olympic National Park includes 73 miles of wild coastline. These beaches offer a glimpse into an environment that local tribes have called home for generations. Short trails or overnight backpack trips offer ways to explore the rugged coast and its teaming tidepools. Ancient Forests Towering trees and rushing water greet visitors to Olympic's old growth forests. Lake Crescent, Heart O' the Hills, Sol Duc and Elwha offer old growth forests on the northern peninsula. Staircase is a popular eastern destination. The westside Quinault, Queet, Hoh and Bogachiel valleys are superb examples of temperate rain forests. Snowy Mountains Head to Hurricane Ridge for vistas of the rugged Olympic Mountains. A winding 17-mile paved road climbs from Port Angeles to the nearly mile-high Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. On a clear day the park's mountainous interior and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and islands to the north are visible. The steep, dirt Deer Park Road (east of Port Angeles) also leads to the mountains and a small campground. This winding road is not suitable for trailers and RVs.