"Olympic National Park" Top 5 Page for this destination Washington State Things to Do Tip by richiecdisc

Often the sum is far greater than the individual parts that comprise it. Olympic National Park is one of those cases. Mount Olympus despite its many glaciers does not dominate the horizon like Rainier and even the most alluring of rainforests lack the spectacle of massive sequoias but it's not often that one leads right to the other. It's even less common for those two to be adjacent to an incredibly rugged and wild coastline. In Olympic National Park, those three amazing terrains combine to form a truly magical landscapes when taken in total. That such vast habitats are home to so many diverse creatures only adds to its uniqueness.

The park service has done its best to tame the land and yet let it run wild. Amenities are quite good, trail network extensive and there are even organized hot springs. But make no mistake, the vast majority of the park is very much wilderness and to get there you have to walk many miles. So, it is that rare park that caters to both the casual tourist and the intrepid backpacker, with both able to enjoy it in their own ways, rarely needing to cross each other's paths aside from weekend logjams at trail head parking lots.

Sound like a Garden of Eden? Well, it is and as with the real Eden, fruit is not always meant to be eaten. Conservation to protect such treasures is tantamount and only through our combined efforts to ensure its longevity will future generations see what the earth looked like before man decided to pave most of it. Enjoy Olympic National Park and share it with all the creatures that call it home.

Directions: Seattle to Olympic National Park-85 miles or 2.5 hours.