Washington Olympic National Park – the Hoh

   Setting between the Olympic mountain range and the Pacific Ocean lies and area known as the Hoh.   The Hoh is about one of the only chances you will get to go into a temperate rain forest, at least in the Northern Hemisphere.  The western side of the Olympic Peninsula is the only place in the Continental United States you can find a temperate rain forest.  Receiving over 150 inches of rain each year, the main theme here is GREEN.  Take a walkthrough the Hall of Mosses or a walk down Spruce Trail out to the Hoh River for an experience not to be found anywhere else in the country.  There are only about five such rain forests in the world and Washington state has one of them.  Not to be confused with a tropical rain forest, where temperatures hover around 100 degrees every day, this is a rain forest where temperatures can be much cooler.  It is the amount of rain that makes the big difference.

Hoh Ranger Station

Trail marker.

View amoungst the trees.

Hanging Moss

Moss on a log.

Green moss everywhere.

Ferns covering the ground.

Mushrooms anyone?

Nurse Logs.

Trail information on Nurselogs.

Standing next to a fallen 300 foot tree.

Walking between fallen giants.

More Nurselogs.

The Hoh River Valley.

The Hoh River.

The blue waters of the Hoh River.

Trail sign about Fern Moss.

Washington’s Crescent Lake, Marymere Falls Trail area.

Heading toward the Hoh, you have the change to take a drive along the the isolated yet beautiful Lake Crescent area.  Stop off at the Ranger Station and you can take a short hike into the one of the Northwest’s tallest forests.  Here you will walk past giant Spruce’s towering over 200 feet overhead.  Taking a short detour uphill and you will find one of the area’s many spectacular waterfalls.

Follow the signs and you will find your way up to Marymere Falls.  This is a relatively short trial going back into old growth forest, crossing over Barnes Creek and the run off from the falls near it’s entry into Barnes.  Walking through old growth Spruce is a treat, in and of itself.  Having a chance to walk among tree’s that were alive back when my grand parents and likely my Great grand parents were just children, brings to life how precious these trees truly are.  Those who chose to make this area a National Park area, have done us and our children, and children’s children, a great service.  Our National Park Service forms the basis of one of our greatest national resources.  One your next vacation, take advantage of what has been saved for you to enjoy with your family, friends or even just by yourself.  

(click on the photo to see a larger version)

Ranger Ken (retired) stands at his post.

Lake Crescent, Washington.

View of Lake Crescent.

Trail tunnel under roadway from Ranger station.

Trial through the giants.

People among the giants.

Heading into the woods.

Getting perspective of the trees size.

Trail marker – helping to find the way.

Crossing over the stream.

Heading over more streams.

Trails up the hills.

Heading up to the falls.

The falls up ahead.

The falls in it’s splendor.

Washington – Hurricane Ridge – Olympic Peninsula

South West of Seattle Washington lies an area known as the Olympic Peninsula area  Comprising the moutain range known as the Olympic Mountains and holding the Olympic National Park and Rain Forest area.  Along the Northeast line of the mountain range is the city of Port Angles.  Sitting high above and overlooking the port, Puget Sound and Canada across the waters, is an area known as Hurricane Ridge.

View to Vancouver BC

Looking deep into the mountains.

Looking down the meadows.

View of the Olympic Mountains.

BC accross the water.

The path leads up up up….

Nearing the top of Hurricane Ridge.

Trials to the sky!

Enjoying the view!!!