Is the Olympic National Park Going to be your Summer Fling?

Entry to Dosewallips

Cape Flattery

With summer just around the corner, there is a huge park in the Northwestern part of America, specifically, the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, just waiting for you to visit it. Yes, I know, Yellowstone is also waiting, tempting you,  with its hot geothermal features and wildlife. I see that Moab is also flirting with you, trying to get your attention with its smooth sandstone, hot summer days and clear night skies. Yosemite is also on the line, with its California accent trying to entice you with its history, rocks and waterfalls. The Grand Canyon is vying for your attention, flirting at you with rafting trips, sweeping vistas and uniqueness. They are all vying for your attention, your affection, your love and desire, but up here in the northwest, we are playing it coy and are being a little shy.

Storm King

Devil's Punchbowl, Lake Crescent

You see, the Olympic Peninsula is unique,esoteric and still surrounded with mystery. It is isolated and isn’t romantic in society yet. The Olympic National Park is a bit scared to have so many visitors hiking it trails, camp in its campgrounds, climb its peaks, explore its waterfalls and enjoy the diversity that it offers. The Olympic National Park is the park next door, the location often over looked because you are used to it, or maybe you just haven’t seen it in the right setting. This summer, the Olympic National Park wants you to visit, get to know it, and hopefully fall in love.

Moss, Fungi and Ferns

The Rainforest

You may be asking yourself, “What does the Olympic National Park have to offer that we can’t get from one of those other parks?” We know what the other parks are working with, as they strut their goods on National TV with endless documentaries dedicated to how great they are and how everyone needs to experience them. The Olympic National Park has been around long enough to know how to show off its assets. From stunning beaches where you can camp, beachcomb, watch sea life and experience beautiful sunsets, to its peaks jutting up in the air, rising from rainforest canopies dense with moss and large Jurassic Park looking ferns this park will keep your enchanted with it.

Marymere Falls

Tide pool at Ruby Beach

 With so many animal species, so much to see, so much uniqueness, and so much to be in awe about, this park is the park you can grow old with and/or come back to, summer after summer. Remember the first time you saw the view at Hurricane Ridge, the rocks at Shi Shi beach, and the Hall of Mosses at the Hoh Rainforest. Maybe years from now, you will flash back to the first time you saw Mt. Olympus, or stayed the night at the Chalet in the Enchanted Valley. Maybe these will be the memories you share with your grandkids, years from now, reminiscing about the uncharted depths of Lake Crescent or glissading down Mt. Ellinor with Exotic Hikes. The Olympic Park wants you to fall in love, wants your visits and wants you to know, that no matter how crowded it gets in years to come, you will always have a special place in its heart.  

Pony Bridge on the way to Enchanted Valley

The Hoh Rainforest

Yellowstone, Yosemite, Moab and the Grand Canyon won’t remember you when you are gone. To them, you are just another number, another visitor and another notch on their entry gate. I love the Olympic National Park, and it loves me back, as I am sure it will love you. It is true, pure and consistent. It may be rugged at times, hard to get to know in places, but once you are lucky enough to experience the Olympic National Park, it will be the love of your life. 

Douglas Scott

Exotic Hikes

(360)350-8938