Olympic National Park
Washington
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it is SO great having a best friend who lives somewhere so cool! Jilly, I promise I would come visit you even if you lived in the middle of nowhere in Kansas, but, to be honest, it’s pretty awesome you live in the Pacific Northwest. This year’s trip featured just the two of us (the rest of the Fearsome Foursome had some very exciting things going on, i.e. weddings and babies!), and while I really missed Kim and Lindsey, it was nice to spend some quality time with Jill (and Jamie - don’t think I forgot about Jamie!)
Olympic National Park is located in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. It is composed of nearly one million acres of wilderness with a variety of ecosystems, including mountains, temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of coastline. More than 95% of the park is a designated wilderness, providing ample opportunities for adventure.
I flew to Portland Friday night, and after getting lost at the airport (classic), Jilly picked me up and we stayed the night at her and Jamie’s place in northern Oregon. We snacked on some delicious “plu-erries”, a hybrid between a plum and a cherry, chatted for a while, then headed off to bed, determined to get an early start the next morning.
Day 1: Lake Angeles
This was one of the most laid back trips I’d been on in a while, and it felt really, really good. I can always count on Jill for a fun (and relaxing) time. We got up Saturday early-ish (after a gourmet breakfast courtesy of Jamie), drove to Olympic National Park, and got started on Lake Angeles Trail. It was an 8 mile out and back, with about 2,500 feet of elevation gain. It was a warm, balmy day and a tough trail with lots of switchbacks. We hiked our switchbacks through the thick green forest, and a few other hikers pointed out huckleberries growing along the trail - they were everywhere! We meandered along, taking our time, and eating huckleberries whenever we saw them.
As we climbed higher the terrain changed from a luscious green forest to tall pine stands with very little underbrush. Jill got a little stuck trying to climb over a fallen tree, which was quite entertaining! Finally we arrived at Lake Angeles - a gorgeous blue-green lake crowned with tall peaks and steep rocky slopes plunging towards the water. There were sites for backpacking everywhere, and quite a few hikers who planned to spend the night. Exhausted from the hike up, we rewarded ourselves with a cool, refreshing swim in the lake. We swam around for a while, then had lunch on a log with our feet in the water. We saw two brown salamanders walking around on the rocky lake bottom, and one of them got a little too close for comfort!
We relaxed at Lake Angeles for a while, taking in the gorgeous view and just enjoying our girl time! Eventually we hiked back down to the trailhead, then drove to Sequim Bay (pronounced “Squim”) State Park, where Jamie was already waiting for us (with camp all set up I might add). We had dinner and drinks and got caught up, then watched the sunset down by the water. We topped off the evening with snacks, drinks, and conversation around the campfire (that is before I passed out in my chair!)
Day 2: Mt. Storm King
The three of us got up early on Sunday morning and drove to the trailhead for Mt. Storm King - a 5.3 mile, 2,000 foot elevation gain hike. In my opinion this is one of the most iconic hikes in Olympic - and for good reason. The grueling, steep trail is famous for its breathtaking views and strenuous scramble to get to the summit. In all the research I did before this trip, Mt. Storm King was mentioned the most. The trail started at Lake Crescent and climbed up excruciating, steep switchbacks for just under three miles. While we hiked we got glimpses of the lake and the surrounding mountains, which were just breathtaking. Something I love about the mountains in Olympic: the pines go all the way up to the peaks, almost like the mountains are covered in a thick, green blanket.
Eventually we made it to the end of the maintained trail - next came the scramble, including a long section where you had to hold onto rope and pull yourself up because it was so steep! It was definitely a little scary, and it tested my fear of heights (especially because my clumsy self slipped a couple of times) but wow the views from the top were worth it. Sharp, green mountains towered over a sapphire blue lake with nearly 270-degree views! We sat up there for a while, ate lunch, and celebrated with a well-deserved beer.
The rope section was a little scarier on the way down (big surprise, I slipped again). When we made it to the bottom we swam in Lake Crescent - so refreshing! I’d never been able to swim that much, in all my experiences hiking - it was a fun new twist. After our swim we said goodbye to Jamie, and Jill and I headed toward Bogachiel State Park near Forks, WA. First we stopped at LaPush Beach, then ate dinner at a Twilight-themed restaurant! There were Twilight posters and cut-outs everywhere, a “Vampire Threat Level” sign, and even a treaty line - our highschool selves were very pleased. Next we set up camp, had some wine, and sat around the fire. There was a fire ban in Washington at the time, but luckily Jill and Jamie had a portable artificial (gas) fire pit which gave us all the ambiance we needed. We were tired from two days of tough hiking, and it felt great to relax at camp - we played some cards (Jill beat me at cribbage by one point, I was less than thrilled). We hit the hay early, ready for one last day of adventuring before I had to head home!
Day 3: Hoh Rainforest
We packed up camp early Monday morning, then drove to the entrance for the Hoh Rainforest. The Hoh is one of the only temperate rainforests in the U.S., and nearly 140 inches of precipitation fall there each year! It is one of the most popular areas of the park, understandably so, and we hurried ourselves along Monday morning to beat the crowds. We were excited to find there was no line to enter this section of the park, and we got started on the Hall of Moss Trail. The rainforest is really hard to describe, all I can say is it just felt magical. There were so many different types of moss, and it blanketed almost every surface. Thick strands of moss hung on massive tree limbs like a blanket draped over a clothesline. Rain moved in and it sprinkled on and off while we hiked, which just added to the magic of the rainforest!
The sprinkles turned into a steady rain, along with strong winds and quite a chill. We drove down the coast and stopped at one beach before we decided enough was enough, and instead opted for some clam chowder and hot toddy’s at a local restaurant. We enjoyed our warm food and drink while we sat in front of a big window, taking in the views of the beach before saying goodbye to the Olympic Peninsula.
Then, sadly, our adventure came to a close. We drove back to Jill and Jamie’s place, made dinner, then started watching Twilight movies (inspired by our trip to Forks). We cringed at the awkwardness, but man it was entertaining, and we had no regrets! The next morning we had a nice breakfast, watched yet another Twilight movie, and Jilly drove me to the airport.
It was a great trip - the views, and the company. It was so nice to spend some quality time with one of my best friends, and on the flight home I couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic thinking about all the other adventures I’ve had with friends, and how lucky I am to have such wonderful people in my life!
Olympic National Park is an incredible place. Where else can you see mountains, the ocean, AND a rainforest? I barely scratched the surface of this amazing park, and I can’t wait to visit again someday - maybe on a backpacking trip? The options are endless!
I hope you enjoyed the post! Check out the rest of the pictures in our gallery.