Day 68: Olympic National Park

Driving and Hiking Hurricane Ridge

Looking Down on Hurricane Ridge Visitor's Center & Parking Lot

Today we finally made it to Olympic National Park and drove the Hurricane Ridge Road up the mountain, and then did some hiking and had a picnic lunch in the park before heading back down the mountain.

Here are some highlights from the drive up. (Yes, the music in the background is Tom Petty-- a fitting tribute, we thought.  RIP.)




You'll note from the main picture that the parking lot at the Visitors Center was very empty.  You'll also note that in most of the drive up video we weren't burdened by other cars going slowly.  I imagine that in the peak of the season this is a beautiful but painfully slow ride. (M approves of off-season travel.)

Here is Bob taking in the view from the Visitor Center Deck:

Bob Surveys the Mountains From the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center
(And Proclaims the View from our Deck at home in Colorado to be Far More Impressive)

Once we reached the top, we decided to make our own hike and hit pieces of the Cirque Rim trail, the Klahhane trail, and to tackle the entire High Ridge trail.  If you're wondering how Bob & Lisa managed a three hike day-- just take a look at the beginning of the trailhead:

Bob & Lisa Hit the Arduous Asphalt Hurricane Ridge Trail

However, lest you think us true wimps, as we got to the High Ridge Trail the pavement gave way to tree-root encumbered but very well compacted dirt.

Hiking Boots on the Rough Portion of the Trail

And of course, there were obstacles around every corner, so we had to stay sharp:

Bob Just Clears the Tree
(Lisa Didn't Realize There Was an Issue)

However, we were rewarded for our efforts by some great views.  We even ran into a deer, but didn't get a close enough picture to use.  These were taken from high points on the trail:

From the Top of High Ridge Trail in Olympic National Park

From a Scenic Overlook About 0.2 Miles from the Parking Lot
(I can see Canada from my Trail Head!)

After finishing our first hike, we entertained the possibility of doing another one.  So we drove another 1.5 miles past the Visitor Center to the trailhead, but alas the parking lot was full so we had to pass and head back to the picnic area for lunch.  We were sure to follow all the directions to protect ourselves from bears, raccoons, and bluejays?

Picnic Instructions in Olympic National Park

After we finished our picnic, we headed back down the mountain and back to the house.  Here are some highlights from the drive down:

When we left the house this morning the tide was out and there were birds all over the tidal flats as far as the eye could see:

Low Tide on Our Beach in the Morning

When we got home, the tide was back in and that large bird you see in the picture above had made himself at home on a high-tide island:

Bird on an Island Triptych

The house truly has amazing views from both sides, which are particularly apparent at sunset. You see the sun setting from the front of the house and the moon rising from the back.

Sunset Over the Mountains (from the front porch of our house) - M in foreground

Moon Rise Over the Water from the Back Deck of Our House
(Yes, that is the same bird still there)

Finally, we leave you tonight with the lighthouse at the end of Dungeness Spit flashing in the twilight:

Yes, that is indeed the same bird again.

--Lisa