Washington--Olympic National Park
Date: 2004-12-18
This is a great drive in itself circling Olympic National Park, but you
must take some side trips into the park. Take U.S. 101 all the way from
Port Angeles to Quinault. There are several recommended excursions into
the park that include Port Angeles up to Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rain
Forest.
You might also consider visiting Lake Mills, Sol Duc Hot Springs, Queets and Graves Creek. The Olympic National Park surrounds 7,965-foot Mt. Olympus and has one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth, including alpine forests, sub-alpine meadows, rainforests, and the rugged Pacific Coast. This is "Big Country" at its best. Hot springs overlook glacial lakes. There are over 600 miles of hiking trails.
In Port Angeles, you can take a ferry 18 miles across the Strait of Juan DeFuca to beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, or you could drive out Race Street to Hurricane Ridge Road for fabulous views. The town is also a major log-shipping center with logs floating in the harbor and timber boats bound for the Orient. Near Lake Crescent is 90-foot Marymere Falls. The Hoh Rain Forest is a dense woods filled with moss-draped Red Cedar, and trails bordered with lush ferns. Check out the Kalaloch Information Station before hiking on the beach, because tides can come up quickly. There are tall stacks of land that used to be part of the mainland, but now tower over the beaches and surf, separated by the constant erosion.
Starting Point:
Port Angles, WA
Distance of Drive:
124 miles
Must Eat:
Camp 7
6080 U.S Hwy 101, Amanda Park, WA 98526
Phone:360-288-2662
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: Pizza
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Year round
Points of Interest on Drive:
Marymere Falls
Hoh Rain Forest
Olympic National Park
Pacific Science Center
- Washington--North Cascades Highway
- Washington--Gold Medal Drive
- Many more Great Drives on Drivers.com
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