Wirta family on the top of Deer Ridge, Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is so large and so biologically diverse that it’s been designated an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. The Wilderness Act passed in 1988 by the U.S. Congress designated 95 percent of the park as wilderness. There are no roads that crisscross the park. The interior is rugged, isolated and beautiful and has hardly changed since the last Ice-Age. This makes Olympic National Park a backpacker’s mecca. These backpacking adventures that take you into the heart of the Park. Let the Sequim Holiday Inn Express and Suites, or Sequim Quality Inn and Suites be your basecamp for all your backpacking adventures!
Climbing Mount Olympus – For years Mount Olympus, that peak with the mythical name, has whispered to me,loud enough that I was going to attempt to summit it for a third time.
Anderson Glacier Bike and Hike – Anderson Glacier is a magnificent but isolated area of Olympic National Park. You can get to Anderson glacier in one day by bicycling along the washed-out Dosewallips River road and then hike to glaciers from there. It is worth the trip!
Cameron Creek and Grand Valley Backpacking Adventure – This backpacking adventure will take you into the interior of Olympic National Park. Starting at Slab Creek and ending at Deer Park is a 30 mile trek that crosses over two mountain passes. It’s not easy and there were some unexpected obstacles.
Grand Pass Backpacking Adventure – Grand Pass in Olympic National Park is aptly named; the view of the headwall from the valley floor is a most grand and beautiful sight. Of course it helps when the weather is perfect, the wildflowers prolific, and whistling marmots greet you.
Cabins of the Elwha River Valley – This story highlights the historical sites and cabins in the upper reaches of the Elwha River. Read to see what it’s like to sleep in a Ranger Station on a cold winter night.
The Enchanted Valley – This is a stunning valley deep in the south section of the Olympics. Park Ranger Raymond Geerdes once wrote, “One could not help but be deeply moved by this beauty and splendor of God’s world. This is truly an enchanted place.”
Sol Duc Falls photo by Ross Hamilton
Seven Lakes Basin – This hike could be done in one day, but to fully appreciate its beauty, I would recommend taking a few days in the wilderness and absorbing what nature has provided. From the majestic river to the pristine glacial lakes, it is a hike that you will remember for years to come.