Olympic National Park is on Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific NorthWET. The park sprawls across several different eco-areas including, rain forests, the Olympic Mountains with the glacier-clad Mount Olympus, old-growth forests and the Pacific coastline.

Located in the northwestern most corner of the state of Washington, this national park covers thousands of square miles with backpack trails, pristine lakes, river valleys, rain forests, and glacier topped mountains.

At summit of Mount Olympus

From the coast to the tops of Mount Olympus

Pacific Coast Region of Washington

Coastal ranges Ecoregion

Numerous hiking and backpacking trails which cut through the park's interior as well as along its coastline. There are ample places for back county travel in pristine environment with primitive camping.

Too, there are several drive in campground in different areas of the park.

For vehicle camping, please see Sol Duck campground

Amenities include: animal and bird viewing, backpacking, camping, day hikes, fishing, scenic drives, and more.

Wilderness Camping Permits are required for all overnight stays in the Olympic National Park wilderness (backcountry) year-round and must be obtained in advance through Recreation.gov through the Olympic Park Wilderness Permit page prior to the planned trip.

Bear canisters are required at many wilderness camp area.

In special quota areas, camping is only permitted in designated sites and deviation from you permit itinerary is not allowed, except in the case of emergency.

Camping in larger camping area are not assigned and are first-come for permit holders.

Overnight use are limited in special quota areas to minimize over use. Most quota area will likely fill up in advance by reservations. See Reservation.gov for more information.

In special quota areas, camping is only permitted in designated sites and deviation from you permit itinerary is not allowed, except in the case of emergency.

Vehicle: $30.00

Motorcycly: $25.00

Bycycle: $15.00

Adults: $8.00 per person per night

Children 15 and under: Free

Olympic NP Wilderness Pass: Free for pass holder

Reservation.gov Fee: $6.00

With the anticipation of extensive travel upon retirement, I take several short trips hoping to hone the drive ability of the jammer. These trips would first take me south along the west coast through the Olympic peninsula and later further south into Oregon.

Awake to an overcast day but bright sunshine and drive to the city beach to take a shower. Next, I grab a cup of hot and drive south on SR 20, stopping to take a photo of the Penn Cove pier. Then, I head for the Keystone ferry, get in line and await for the eight forty-five crossing.

Upon parking on the boat, I walk to the front to look for a photo opportunity and then back to the Windjammer because the crossing is only thirty minutes. Once across, I drive to the Olympic National Park visitors center in Port Angeles to get a patch and find out that most all of the park locations are open.

Then, I drive west along Crescent Lake, stoping occasionally for photographs and turn up the Sol Duc River road towards the hot springs. Arriving at Sol Duck Hot Springs, I go into the resort and enjoy the soak in the hot water (107 degrees) for about two hours alternating with the swimming pool (74 degrees) to keep from overheating.

I arise early this morning to finish packing, especially since I had gone to bed early last night.

From here, I drive to the ferry terminal and get in line for the ride across Puget Sound. I begin writing this journal entry while sitting in the Windjammer before boarding the Washington ferry here in west Seattle. However, the scenes available from this dock are beckoning me to photograph them so I grab my camera and begin focusing.

Soon after, we board the ferry which embarks from the Fauntleroy Landing to begin the crossing of Puget Sound toward Southward Landing. As we continue our approach to the peninsula, we enter Clovos Passage, pass directly south of Blake Island and then the ferry slows its engines as it begins the approach to Southward Landing. This has been a short passage, about twenty minutes of actual travel on the water but the total time between driving on to driving off has been almost an hour. Still, it only costs nine dollars and fifteen cents for the Windjammer and myself saving me the five hour drive around the sound.

Once back on land, I drive north onto the peninsula, cross the hood canal, a narrow but deep passage down which years earlier I had watched submarines travel. Then I drive through Port Angeles and then up to Hurricane Ridge.