As a lover of ecology and biological diversity, the rainforest is one of my favorite habitats to explore and to study. My world travels have taken me to many tropical rainforests – in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. Yet the temperate rainforest closer to my home in the Pacific Northwest is a place that remained unexplored to me until recently. Our visit to the Hoh Rainforest in the Olympic National Park this summer was amazing! My favorite part was the Hall of Mosses, where you are surrounded by ancient trees draped in mosses. It looks just like the perfect setting for an eerie fairytale and I felt humbled walking next to these giants. I was hoping to encounter an elk peeking at us through the greenery during our visit, but not this time. I will just have to go back soon!
Sincerely,
Olympic National Park
Exploring Olympic’s dynamic landscape is like visiting three parks in one. The high mountains offer snow, glaciers, wilderness and — if you time it right — acres of wildflowers. The lush, verdant Hoh Rainforest is unlike anything else in the Lower 48, and home to Roosevelt elk, black bears and other charismatic wildlife. And the park’s stunning coast offers some of the country's wildest and most spectacular beaches, dotted with tide pools and sea stacks. Visitors can now see where park staff recently removed two large dams, letting the Elwha River flow freely again for the first time in more than 100 years.
State(s): Washington
Established: 1938
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Greetings from Olympic National Park
I spent a day hiking in Olympic National Park with my family this summer. We were greeted by snow-capped mountains and miles of evergreens, both of which were familiar characteristics of Washington State. Throughout the year, the mountains are always dotted with wildflowers frequented by fat bees and skittish butterflies.…
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Greetings from Olympic National Park
On top of Hurricane Ridge I came across this deer who seemed to be enjoying the view as much as I did.
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Greetings from Olympic National Park
In 1993 I was 16 years old and had just come out in my small town. There was no one else I knew, no support groups, no gay characters in TV or movies. Fortunately, I had very supportive friends. I spent that summer volunteering in the backcountry of Olympic National…
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