Olympic National Park
(Washington State)
Deep in the heart of Olympic National Park in the northwest corner of Washington State, I feel like I've stepped into technicolor. Coming from a place of desert landscapes, the vivid colors of green everywhere you cast your gaze almost makes up for the gray skies.
Because it's constantly damp it seems, everything is oozing with life. Trees, shrubs, moss, bugs, slugs. There is water cascading from everywhere and on the entire five mile hike to Olympic Hot Springs and back, the sound of rushing water trailed us.
Our original intent was to drive the two or so hours to Hoh River Trail to hike through the rainforest that gets about 12 feet of rain a year. We got derailed by the stunning Elwha River and decided to stay in the Elwha Valley instead. Which is just as fine, because right where we reached the hot springs was a rainforest, albeit a smaller one, with moss dripping from its branches like melting wax from a candle. There were thick carpets of moss on rocks that I bet if you slept on one, you wouldn't feel the hard surface at all. There were fallen trees, collapsed from natural causes, taken over by moss overgrowth, its branches swarmed by micrograsses giving it the appearance of tangled tentacles of octopus huddled in a group hug.
And the smell of the mountains, the river, the ancient trees, the sulfurous hot springs, of moisture oozing and leaking out of everywhere. How could one begin to describe that?
I have never in my life felt like I've been swallowed by a rainforest before. The massive trees, the even bigger mountains, made me bemuse in my smallness and insignificance. Yet again in the wilderness, relative to the power and grace of nature, I am put in my place.
Boulder Creek Trail
5 miles out and back. Rivers, waterfalls, wildlife, hot springs. Bring your swimsuits!
 Boulder Creek: Trail Olympic National Park |  Olympic National ParkMoss everywhere. |  Olympic National ParkWater leaking everywhere. |
|---|---|---|
 Olympic National ParkA tangled mess of mossy curtains, like octopus huddled in a group hug |  Olympic NationA tangled mess of mossy curtains, like octopus huddled in a group hug |  Olympic National ParA tangled mess of mossy curtains, like octopus huddled in a group hug |
 Olympic NationaA tangled mess of mossy curtains, like octopus huddled in a group hug |  Olympic National Park |  Olympic National Park |
 Olympic National Park |  Olympic National ParkGet swallowed. |  Olympic National Park |
 Olympic National Park |  Olympic National ParkBurrow. |  Olympic National Parkal P |
 Olympic National ParkEn route to the Hot Springs |  Olympic National Park |  Olympic National ParkEn route to the Hot Springs |
 Olympic National Park |  Olympic National ParkA 2.5 mile to this natural hot spring |  Olympic National Park |
 Olympic Hot Springs |  Olympic Hot Springs |  Olympic National Park |
 IMG_5871.JPG |
Elwha River
On August 26, 2014, the last part of Elwha Dam was taken down. It is the biggest dam removal project in history. Although some parts of the dam that don't obstruct the river remain, one can appreciate how the Elwha has finally run free after a century.
 Elwha DamOr what used to be Elwha Dam |  Elwha RiverThe Elwha River flows free after 100 years of being held captive by a 108 foot concrete wall that was the Elwha Dam. |  Elwha RiverThere used to be a "lake" here. So serene and peaceful, like a dead river. Water suppressed from the river builds up into a lake and is the source of hydropower. The final parts of the dam came down in September 2014 and the river is finding its natural course once more. |
|---|---|---|
 Elwha River runs free! |  Elwha Dam..Or what remains of it. The parts of the dam that were not obstructing river flow was left behind to save costs. It would have been a logistical nightmare, too, I would imagine, to haul away all that concrete. |  Elwha River flows free! |
 Elwha RiverThere used to be thousands of salmon swimming upstream in the Elwha to spawn. The dam killed the river for the salmon. Only 93% make it upstream of the dam. |  Elwha Dam |
Hurricane Ridge
 Hurricane Ridge |  Hurricane RidgeDeer grazing |  Hurricane Ridge |
|---|---|---|
 Hurricane Ridge |  Hurricane Ridge |  Hurricane Ridge |
 Hurricane RidgeThere are plenty of (asphalt) trails so anyone could walk around and explore. Hiking shoes not really required. |  Hurricane RidgeStunning views of the chain of mountains |  Bambi! |
 Hurricane Ridge |  Hurricane Ridge |
Olympic National Park is predominantly wilderness. No roads cut through its heart. One of the rare places accessible by car is Hurricane Ridge, where there is a breathtaking panorama of the Olympic mountains and glaciers (there are supposedly 8 of them). This seems like National Parks Service's attempt to give the masses access to the beauty of the mountains and the wilderness without requiring that they hike. The wildflowers in the early summer supposedly will make you feel transported to paradise.
There are plenty of deer grazing in the alpine meadows in plain sight (how sad!) and if you do see them, say hello, but please, stay away and definitely don't feed them. Their survival depends on them foraging for their own natural food. They're not built to digest your processed crap.
Fly into Seattle/Tacoma. From there, you can either drive, or drive and shuttle your rental car on a ferry. We went on the Memorial Day weekend and the GPS initially routed us to the get on the ferry. The lines were a nightmare! We drove the entire way and once we got out of Tacoma, there really weren't any slowdowns. The drive took over two hours and was very scenic. From Seattle, you'll basically trace a U, starting east heading west. You'll have to go south to Tacoma head west to cross Tacoma Narrows Bridge to Bremerton, then you'll start heading northwest to Port Angeles. Good driving directions can be found here.
Getting there
Glamping
KOA Port Angeles {80 O'Brien Road, Port Angeles, WA 98362}
For the closest thing to camping without pitching your own tent, or for a short visit on a long weekend, I highly recommend getting a cabin at KOA in Port Angeles. You will need to bring your own sleeping bags and towels, and you'll have to share bathrooms, but the grounds and facilities are very clean. The inside is basic - a full bed and a bunk (no linens), a writing desk, a chair, electricity, wifi, and even a plug-in heater (we didn't use it). Relative to nearby lodges and hotels, at $77/night, we thought it was a bargain.
Glamping right outside Olympic National Park
Meal Plan
There were a handful of decent looking restaurants in downtown Port Angeles. Whatever you do though, don't miss Blackbird Cafe on E 8th. They serve breakfast and lunch, and Stumptown Coffee and it will get you deliciously caffeinated for your hours of hiking! Post-hike carbo loading calls for Bella Italia where their Pacific Salmon risotto was a winner. Kokopelli Grill for oysters, soups and salads, and surprisingly good local Cabernet from a winery called Camaraderie!
