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Come, vist and
stay "just one more day" --
It's the story that counts
"When these heavy oceanic plates collide with the continental plates, something has to give."
The Olympic Peninsula, dominated by tortuous terrain and surrounded on three sides by water, has stood in isolation for millennia. As eons passed, it developed its own special character preserved today in the park. Often moody, sometimes unforgiving, it nevertheless captivates us by its sheer beauty. Somehow, the vicissitudes of our lives pale beside the boldness, delicateness, of nature's handiwork.
The park is a genuine wilderness, and much of it can only be reached on foot. Back country travel is made easier and safer by six hundred miles of trails. You could hike these trails for two solid months and always be seeing new country. And should you choose to head cross-country instead, you would learn first-hand why the Olympic Peninsula remained unconquered for so long.
Water, in its many aspects, constitutes the heart of this evergreen world. Moisture-laden sea winds sweep inland, nurturing magnificent rain forests and dropping rain forests and dropping rain and snow on the high peaks. Meltwater from the snow fields moves seaward, feeding numerous lakes, waterfalls, and rivers. Along the coast, pounding waves relentlessly wear away the shoreline. Rivers such as the Quillayute, Queens, and Hoh meet the sea.
The Olympic wilderness can be experienced on many other levels. Spur roads lead to many major attractions, like the Hoh Rain Forest, Kalaloch and Rialto beaches, and the magnificent views of Hurricane Ridge. Scattered around the park are enclaves of resorts, campgrounds, and interpretive centers. Beauty, mystery, and adventure beckon everywhere. The wilderness calls with many voices, for Olympic National Park is a vast and varied treasure.
