Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [307]
The last leg of our rain forest excursion takes you to one of the most commercially developed areas in the park, Sol Duc and the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. It might be a nice idea, before you head back down the coast to Olympia, or to your campsite or hotel room, to have a dip in these famous hot springs (open from late spring to early fall). The hot springs experience costs $6.75 to enter; packages, including a sauna and a massage, are available. You also have your choice of comfort levels, anywhere from 70° to 158°F (21°C–70°C). But be forewarned: There's a resort here, and the springs can be crowded. Still, if you're into luxuriating after a long day of hiking, it may be just the thing.
The area has more than hot springs. Try taking the 1-mile hike from the springs through some wonderfully dense forest to Sol Duc Falls. Or take the Mink Lake Trail through 2.5 miles of uphill grade and dense forest to get a look at one of the many higher-altitude lakes that dot the Sol Duc region.
THE EAST SIDE OF THE PARK
Seen the rain forests? You could do a lot worse than spending a day seeing the glaciers and the alpine meadows of the east side of the park. This time, the convenient jumping-off point is probably Port Angeles. First, visit the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, to get acquainted with what you're about to see.
As in the rain-forest tour, this trip starts with a choice: Head back through Port Angeles for the Elwha/Altaire area, or from the visitor center head to Hurricane Ridge. Either way, you're in for a variety of Olympic experiences.
The Elwha area has a small ranger station beside Lake Mills (a reservoir) and, farther up the road, a very nice observation point for viewing the surrounding hills. In addition, if you don't want to deal with the crowds at Sol Duc, you can hike 2.5 miles from Elwha to the only other hot springs available inside the park. Located on the banks of Boulder Creek, the Olympic Hot Springs is not accessible by car, and don't expect amenities or guarantees of sanitation, either. In other words, use at your own risk.
Along the way to Hurricane Ridge from Port Angeles, pass the Heart O' the Hills Ranger Station. At Hurricane Ridge, one of the most popular spots in the park, there are a number of short interpretive trails, very good for seeing wildflowers. Many larger trails intersect here as well. The visitor center has numerous interpretive exhibits and a snack bar.
Leaving Hurricane Ridge, Port Angeles, or the Elwha area, drive a little farther southeast. Off a turnoff from U.S. 101 is the less crowded Deer Park Ranger Station, where you get the same sort of views as at Hurricane Ridge without jostling for position. The road to Deer Park is steep and graveled. It's not suitable for RVs and trailers, and prepare to deal with steep inclines, turns, and potholes. In the winter the road may be closed.
Outside Olympic National Park, consider visiting other locations along U.S. 101, such as Dungeness and Sequim Bay state parks on the northeastern tip of the peninsula, with their beautiful shorelines and views of the strait. As you travel farther south, the Hood Canal will appear on your left. There are numerous places here to see seals on the rocks on a good day, especially at Seal Point.
Organized Tours & Ranger Programs
Olympic National Park offers a variety of programs, including campfire talks, stargazing, and beach walks. You'll find rain-forest tours originating from the Hoh and Quinault ranger stations, alpine wildflower walks from the Hurricane Ridge area, and lakeside and waterfall walks from the Storm King Ranger Station. Contact park headquarters for a current schedule.
Historic & Man-Made Attractions
There aren't many man-made attractions within the park, although it's dotted with old homestead sites, such as those found along the Geyser Loop Trail. Also, there's an old cabin behind the Olympic National