In Olympic National Park, bridges serve many functions. They obviously help us cross rivers, keep out feet dry and get us from Point A to Point B, but they also do so much more. They act as gateways; serving as portals to wilderness and adventure over deep ravines and stunning box canyons. The bridges of Olympic …
The Gray Outdoors: Exploring Seven of Olympic’s Best ‘Bad Weather’ Hikes
As the gray covers the Pacific Northwest, negative attitudes about the weather become as commonplace as raindrops. When the clouds and dreariness return, a collective sigh is emitted, and pictures of the summer make #tbt that much more special. It seems like years ago that we were in swimsuits (hell, even in shorts) on the beaches or lakes, …
Olympic National Park’s Elwha River Valley Reopen to Foot Traffic: New Trail Map Included
On Saturday, February 20th, 2016, one of the classic regions of Olympic National Park finally reopened. Three months ago, a winter storm, combined with the now free roaming Elwha River combined and carved a new channel, wiping out a huge section of the road leading to some of the prettiest areas of Olympic. Today, Olympic Crews …
Olympic National Park Saw Over Three Million Visits in 2015
Tucked away in the upper left corner of the contiguous United States, Olympic National Park is one of America’s most popular wilderness destinations. Best known for stunning coastlines, dense rainforests, salmon filled rivers and glaciated summits, the region has brought Nirvana to life twice and forever changed how we view wilderness in America’s public lands. Consistently …
Olympic On Pace to be 7th Most-Visited National Park: November 2015 Visitor Stats
As the year winds down, so do the number of individuals who head outdoors to Olympic National Park. What started as an endless onslaught of wilderness lovers flooding Washington State’s most popular National Park has slowly turned into a trickle. In November of 2015, when large retailers like REI encouraged everyone to #OptOutside, Olympic saw …
Weather Closes Staircase and Other Areas of Olympic National Park for the Weekend
After what has felt like a decade’s worth of bad weather hitting us over the past seven days, the effects of the storms are continuing to wreak havoc on travel plans around Washington State and in our National Parks. Across the state, numerous roads are closed, with many more damaged and/or flooded. Rivers are flooding and spilling …
Olympic National Park Breaks Three Million Visitors in 2015
For the third straight month, Washington State’s most-visited National Park has seen a decrease in popularity. Despite the drop in visitation through October of 2015, for the year Olympic National Park did break the three million visitor mark for the third consecutive year and the 17th time in park history. While Olympic is a still …
Roads Remain Closed After Storm Slams Olympic National Park
After Olympic National Park sustained 80+MPH winds, feet of rain and dozens of flooded river, many areas are still inaccessible for vehicle traffic. With the heavy winds and rain, roads have washed away and sustained serious damage. The areas impacted are The Quinault, the Elwha, the Sol Duc and Hurricane Ridge. Park Officials issued a statement …
Six Areas of Olympic National Park to Close Ahead of Strong Storm
With a strong fall storm barreling down on the Pacific Northwest, the officials at Olympic National Park have decided to close six entrances to the park, and even close down a campground. With nearly a foot of rain expected to fall between Thursday and Saturday in and around Olympic National Park, visitors are urged to …
Elwha’s Whiskey Bend Road Reopens to Car Traffic
This week has been a rollercoaster of emotions for the Elwha Region of Olympic National Park. The week started with an announcement that the incredibly popular Olympic Hot Springs would be closed due to a 61 year old man dying in one of the pools. Now, we get good news, as the Whiskey Bend Road …