Books, Bites, and Sights

May 30th – June 2nd

A Long Weekend Exploring Olympic National Park

The Pacific Northwest.

Prior to coming here on our 63 in 365 journey, I had never set foot in the PNW, and the only thing I thought I knew about the area was that it rained – a lot. Oh! And the whole Big Foot thing.

As for the rain, it’s true. As for the Big Foot thing, I can’t confirm nor deny.

I’m not sure what I was expecting to get out of or take away from this part of the US, but I do know that of all the national parks Amory and I have been to thus far two stick out in my mind as having exceeded my personal expectations. Olympic NP, our second park in the PNW, is one of them.

We spent 4 days, 4 nights in Olympic NP – or in other words a long weekend. Could I spend more time here? Yup, but 4 days did give us enough time to explore the many parts of Olympic without feeling too rushed.

But before we get into all the bites and sights, let’s dial in on the books – or better yet, the audiobooks. During our long weekend I had the chance to listen to two audiobooks that have been on my ‘want to read’ list for a while now: Pageboy by Elliot Page and Finding Me by Viola Davis. Both memoirs, both read by the authors themselves, both raw, both inspiring, and both highly recommended by me.

Aside from hearing both of the authors’ own voice tell their story, the audiobook versions allowed the authors to put emphasis on words, phrases, and stories that I may have just blindly glazed through. Created lightheartedness through chuckles and exhales. Invoked physical feelings of hesitancy through their stammers and stutters. These memoirs were both meant to be listened to and wouldn’t recommend them to be experienced any other way than via audiobook. Oddly (but in hindsight not surprisingly) both left me with a similar take away: Who you want to be now or who you want to be in the future is who you can be regardless of who you’ve been prior. Live authentically, whatever that means for you, without shame or apology.

Day 1

• Drive in from Seattle (3.5 – 4 hours)
• Hike to Strawberry Bay at low tide via the rugged Third Beach Trail to Taylor Point (6 miles, in-and-out)
  • Highlights: starfish, coastal ladder scrambling, offshore sea stacks, and a gentle ocean breeze
• Stay along the Western coast of ONP at the Mora Campground for $24 a night

Day 2

• Drive 2 miles to Rialto Beach and trek to Hole-in-the-Wall (3.5 mile in-and-out) for tide pooling
  • Highlights: Easy early morning walk along shoreline, but very busy and only accessible during low tide; Books, Bites, Insights? Always reference tide levels using.a tide chart. Be familiar with how tides work, and be aware of what time the tide is expected to return.
• Stop at the Three Rivers Resort Restaurant and Cafe for a hot latte, a craft burger, and a good laugh
  • Highlights: Forks, Washington was the setting of the Twilight saga; hence, all the vampire and werewolf references. #TeamEdward am I right?
• Drive out (roughly 1 hour) to the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center for the Hall of Mosses Trail (1 mile loop)
  • Highlights: A simple, easy to follow loop through a temperate rainforest with ancient moss growth, but I was very disappointed with this one and wouldn’t suggest it unless you have time to kill. There was a line to get into the parking lot, no parking once there (so be ready to drive in circles), and the very crowded trail wasn’t that impressive. There are so many other trails in the park where you can see similar, if not better, ancient moss growth, so this trail/area (which is an hour drive out of the way) didn’t feel worth it IMO.

• Drive 1 hour and 45 minutes to the Sol Duc area to hike the Lovers Lane, B-Loop, and Sol Due Nature Trail Loop (6 mile loop)
  • Highlights: Sol Duc Waterfall, natural hot springs, bridge crossings, Lover’s Lane Waterfall, moss-draped old growth trees
• After hiking, reserve a spot to soak in the hot springs pools at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
  • Highlights: 3 different geothermally heated mineral pools, one freshwater pool, open late, only $19 per person for a 1.5 hour session, showers, nearby campground
• Stay at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Campground for $40 a night

Day 3

• Drive to (40 minutes) and scramble up Mount Storm King (4.5 mile in-and-out)
  • Highlights: Breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Crescent, steep, rocky rope assisted sections (fun but challenging – be aware)
• On your way back to the Mount Storm King Trailhead, keep left for the Marymere Falls Trail (2 mile in-and-out)
  • Highlights: Shares a trailhead with Mount Storm King, upper and lower falls viewing platforms
• Do a cold plunge in Lake Crescent at the Devil’s Punchbowl via the Spruce Railroad Trail (2.5 mile in-and-out)
  • Highlights: Turquoise waters, predominately paved pathway
• Stay at the nearby lake-side Fairholme Campground for $24 a night

Day 4

• Drive to the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Contact Station (1 hour drive), and hike the Sunrise Ridge Trail to Klahhane Ridge (7 miles in-and-out)
  • Highlights: Long distance views of Olympic National Park, never ending vistas of the Salish Sea and the Olympic Mountains, opportunity to take a spur trail to Mount Angeles
• Stay at the first-come-first-serve Heart O’ the Hills Campground for $24 a night

One third of Washington State’s national parks done and done. Up next: Mount Rainier. Until then readers. Xoxoxox.