"WILDERNESS DEFINED" a Olympic National Park Travel Page by mtncorg

Encompassing a major portion fo the Olympic Peninsula of northwest Washington, Olympic National Park is a wilderness world unto itself. The Park is mainly about the incredible mountains and forests lying at the Peninsula's core, but a 57 mile stretch of wild coast has also been thrown in letting the Park lay claim to all the main ecological zones present on the Peninsula. An interesting sidebar: the Queets River was chosen to be protected from its mountain source in the center of the Park all the way to a point about 3 miles from its ocean mouth in the lands of the Quinalt Indian tribe. It was chosen to represent the quintessential Olympic stream - the prime example of a primeval watercourse.

Olympic Park lies in between North Cascades NP and Mt Rainier NP in terms of accessibility for the normal tourist. You can see wild coasts, experience wet rain forests, soak in hot springs, boat on the incredible Lake Crescent, drive to a mountain top overlooking 20% of the Park - something normally reserved only for the elitist personae - the alpinist. You might have to drive a bit between stops, though. Each of the aforementioned activities are at different points along the half-circle that US 101 makes around the Park. 95% of the Park remains primeval. You can get lost in it for weeks - there are almost 900 miles of trails. In fact, the first group that traversed the mountains - north-to-south - the Press Expedition of 1889-90, took 5 1/2 months to do so.

The Park takes up a lot of space. Some people try to do the Park in a day.You would have to wake up very early in your Seattle hotel room, so that you could catch that first ferry to Winslow. A quick drive to the Port Angeles and up Hurricane Ridge. Don't tarry too long because you have only just begun. Back down again and farther west, along the shores of Lake Crescent. Then out of the Park through many miles - you can tell you are out of the Park because the trees are all gone; to Japan, China, or maybe LA. Maybe pick up a snack in the Olympian metropolis of Forks, but make it quick because the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is just down the road. After a quick run through the moss, drive on to the coastal section of the Park. Dip your feet into the cold, grey waters between rain squalls - or if it is one of those few sunny afternoons, maybe catch a sunset, if the day has drawn on a little too long. But remember, it is still a long way back to Seattle and you will want to stop in Aberdeen on the journey home. Aberdeen is the home of Nirvana, afterall.

Fees: $10.00 - 7 Days per vehicle or $5 per individual