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Located in the most northwestern part of the States, Olympic National Park is a specially protected area containing a wealth of wildlife.
The park contains three distinct ecosystems:
- Subalpine forests and wildflower meadows;
- Rainforest;
- Pacific Coastal Strip.
These three distinct ecosystems are under special natural protection and can give you an idea of the natural diversity within one park.
Because of its unique location and natural diversity, Olympic Park became an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
There are Indian reservations within the park, which are not subject to U.S. laws, as the Indians are Native Americans and live autonomously by their own laws.
Olympic National Park in the United States is open to visitors throughout the year. Only some campsites may be closed during holidays or out of season, and you should check in advance about their work on the official website of the park.
The evergreen state of Washington to Olympic National Park is on Route 101 if you’re coming from Oregon, that is, from the South Pacific coast of the United States, as we were (we drove from Cape Meares). And if you’re heading there from Seattle, that is, from the east, then, oddly enough, the same route, 101. The trail winds around the Olympic Peninsula, most of which is a national park.
To see all the sights of the Olympic Park is better to spend a couple of days or even more. After all, the park covers an area of 373.5 hectares, and the distances between tourist sites are not small. Neither is Washington State, which this park represents in all its glory.
You can get to Olympic Park either from east of Seattle or from the south on the road from Aberdeen. It was from the south that we drove, so we tell you about the sights in the order in which they appear to the tourist exploring the park from the southern road. If that’s not your case, the list needs to be reversed. The main sights to see in Olympic National Park are:
- Quinault Rainforest & Lake – The lake is surrounded by rainforest and snow-capped peaks.
- Hoh Rainforest – A forest of ancient trees up to 90 meters high!
- City of Forks – Once a city of lumberjacks, now renowned among fans of the vampire books and movies from the Twilight series.
- Rialto beach offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, the tides, rocks near the shore, and the famous Hole in the wall.
- Cape Flattery is the northwestern-most point of mainland America in Makah territory.
- Sol Duc Falls, a beautiful waterfall in the heart of an ancient forest.
