This park is famous among National Park Service enthusiasts and photographers but is under-appreciated by just about everyone else. Not only is this the most diverse National Park, but it is simply one of the best. No other place has such disparate landscapes packed into such a small area.
While many National Parks feature one spectacular setting like Bryce Canyon, Saguaro or even the Grand Canyon, Olympic has three distinct and impressive environments.
Boasting a temperate rainforest, towering glaciated mountain range and a Pacific Ocean coastline covered in massive rock formations, there is no where that protects such a wealth of different settings. In addition there are several stunning lakes and waterfalls that add even more diversity to the region.
The park makes up a substantial portion of the Olympic peninsula in Washington state, where industry began logging sections of old-growth forest.
Originally set aside at Olympus National Monument in 1909 by Theodore Roosevelt, his cousin Franklin D. Roosevelt would visit the park and decide to protect the forests he found being exploited. Less than a year later the park was re-designated a National Park. In subsequent years Olympic National Park was also be designated an International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Must See Sites
There are very few roads in the park, so travel down as many possible. Just sticking to site on the roads will allow you to see every environment this magnificent park has to offer.
Temperate Rainforest
The heavy rains (150 inches a year) are famous in the Pacific Northwest and have created a lush, mossy and primeval-looking forest of enormous trees. Generally on the western side of the park, there are several ways to ...
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... heavy precipitation year-round which closes the roads in winter.
Mima Mounds
These mounds are a phenomena where hundreds of dome-like hills naturally occur, but have no geological explanation. Mima Mounds protects a field and forest, 1.5 miles long where you can take a trail leads you around the formations. This natural wonder is located to the south, outside of Olympia.
Klondike Gold Rush National
Historical Park-Seattle Unit
Located in downtown Seattle, this site is a museum to the Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon and Alaska. It displays the role of Seattle during this period when many ventured north to become rich. This park has a sister location in Alaska and a partnership with Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site, Dawson Historical Complex National Historic Site, and other Parks Canada sites as part of Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park.
Zielinski, E. (2012, April 25). The Northwest Forest Plan. Retrieved from U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/history/sidebars/ecosystems/Northwest_Forest_Plan.html
Canyonlands National Park, immense amounts of wilderness and rock, is located at the heart of the Colorado Plateau (Canyonlands National Park-Geology). Millions of years have formed specific features to the rock and surrounding wilderness that make it so special. Throughout the park, you will find that the sedimentary rock has formed many features such as hundreds of colorful canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches, and spires. The Green and Colorado rivers have played a major role in the formation of many of these features. These rivers cut through the park forming two massive canyons. This further splits the park into three distinct zones. “Island in the Sky” sits to the north while “The Maze” sits off to the west and “The Needles” to the east (Canyonlands National Park Information Guide). “Island in the Sky” serves as Canyonlands’ observation tower; it allows tourists to see overwhelming vistas of the rest of the land. “The Maze,” as hinted at by the name has been described as a “30 square mile puzzle in sandstone” (NPS: Nature & Science» Geology Resources Division). This section of the park often ranks as one of the most remote and inaccessible areas of the United States. Lastly, “The Needles” is known for its diversity in rock features. Throughout this land, features such as sculptured rock spires, arches, canyons, grabens, and potholes can be seen. The varying names hint at the diversity of the land as a whole. As said by The National Park Service’s Geology Resources Division, “Traces of the Anasazi can be found in almost every canyon in the Needles. Many of their stone and mud dwellings and storehouses are remarkably well-preserved. Tower Ruins, built high on a cliff ledge in a side canyon of Horse Canyon, is an outstanding ex...
In the 1800’s into the early 1900’s a man named John Muir began to explore the western American lands. He traveled down South and up North. But, when he reached Yosemite Valley, his life changed. As said in John Muir’s Wild America, written by Tom Melham, “Following the forest-lined mountain trails, Muir climbed higher into the Sierra Nevada: suddenly, a deep valley enclosed by colossal steeps and mighty water falls yawned before him. Spell bound, he entered Yosemite Valley” (79). Muir’s travels and adventures, highlighted in Melham’s book, explain this man’s love of the wilderness. Yosemite Valley was like a wide, open home to Muir, who, lived alone and discovered new landings and important later landmarks that create the aura of Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Valley was given to the state of California in 1864, part of the continuous idea of Manifest Destiny, later, in 1890; Yosemite became one of the first National Parks (“World Book”). Uniquely, the longer Muir stayed the more that he...
specially protected area's for diving and snorkeling. The Florida Keys are verifiably a spectacular piece of our United States, with Marathon as a perfect
Do you want to hear about the first national park that is the first and only dedicated to a president? Theodore Roosevelt National Park was established in 1947. The Mountains are over 55 million years old. The badlands of Theodore Roosevelt national park is dry with occasional monsoon showers. The park is located in Medora, North Dakota, and is home to some amazing animals including wild horses, reptiles and mammals.
We are so fortunate to live in California and have access to so many of the properties operated by the National Park Service. There are thirteen national parks in California and I have been to seven of them. Enjoying the outdoors is something that is innate to our family. Even before our children could walk they were enjoying hikes through Yosemite in backpacks. This is an amazing fact that I learned from the map given to me in Sequoia National Park; “The only place Giant Sequoias grow now is on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. The 75 distinct groves are found within a narrow band about 260 miles long and 15 miles wide, at its widest point.” (Sequoia National Park, 2012). Without the National Park Service protecting and maintaining parks like Sequoia National Park, there may not be any place like this for my children to learn about this beautiful country that we live
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park was established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980. ANILCA is an act established ”To provide for the designation and conservation of certain public lands in the State of Alaska, including the designation of units of the National Park, National Wildlife Refuge, National Forest, National Wild and Scenic Rivers, and National Wilderness Preservation Systems, and for other purposes.” (96th Congress of the United States, 1980) This act provided for the protection of millions of acres of Alaska’s wilderness through the creation of national parks and preserves, but in doing so, surrounded many small towns and villages by federally protected land.
In 1857, Governor Douglas made a prediction. He saw that the Couteau mines in the Thompson-Fraser River area were exciting the population of the United States of Washington and Oregon. He knew that ...
and the importance of their history. It is the first monument to be added to the National Park
There is no better feeling in this world than to be outdoors with nature, especially when there are numerous activities to dabble in. Often times people take for granted the sentimental value that they can experience by simply walking through a park. God created the Earth to be beautiful and peaceful, and people need to keep it that way. I have always shared a love of the outdoors with my dad and my brother. We have gone on numerous camping, hiking, fishing, and star-gazing trips ever since I can remember. It was no surprise to me when my dad decided to buy a lake house on Hyco Lake, right outside of Roxboro. We got a really good deal on the house, so my dad decided that Hyco Lake was the perfect spot.
The Olympic games is a series of events that takes place every two and four years that originated in Greece to honor the Greek gods (Cartledge 1). The Olympics is an inspirational contest where many nations of the world come together and compete. This pertains to the athletic competitors who have trained for years to enter the Olympics. This includes swimmers, boxers, hockey players, runners, cyclists, ice-skating, figure skating, and many other sports (Cartledge 2). The Olympics have changed since ancient times because of technology, innovations, and a broader audience.
Harris, Ann G., Esther Tuttle, and Sherwood D. Tuttle. "Katmai National Park and Preserve." Geology of National Parks. 4th ed. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Pub., 1990. 441-48. Print.
With over two hundred miles of trails to travel, it is easy to see the tranquility of this distinguished place, and why so many noble men gave their lives protecting it. From tents to pull-through, private or public, and campgrounds there are plenty of options and places for you to park your camper or pitch your tent. Only five miles from the national park, Jackson Hole offers several nice hotels. Grand Teton National Park can be enjoyed by everyone with its forty-two mile scenic loop drive. If you do not want to drive, you can sign up for a scenic float trip that takes you straight through the heart of this magnificent mountain range on the Snake River. Another option you have to viewing the serenity of this place is through a scenic cruise on Jenny Lake. On this cruise you would spend approximately 1 hour learning about the history and geolo...
By looking at my drawing you could see how much the park has developed. Since the park is pretty much a rain forest filled with plants, trees, flowers I couldn't really draw it all in. The parks beauty is what brings a lot of people to the park both locals and visitors. Also, in my drawing you can see a trail that goes through the valley, a waterfall and a swimming area where a lot of locals go to swim and even jump off the rocks and the trail bridge. This shows how we engage in the creative spirit. On the left side of my drawing of the now, you can see a botanical garden area, and little ponds and statue houses that displays the Hawaiian culture well. Then, to the right side of my drawing you can see the area where people would gather for celebrations, where local events are held, and just even a place to sit and have a picnic. With this one could see how the creative spirit links us
Today, tree harvesting occurs on only about 0.5% of the forest at any given time. Approximately 29 million board-feet of timber are taken annually from the forest (1 million board-feet builds about 100 two-thousand square foot homes). Harvesting is selected and carried out carefully to improve recreational facilities, create trails and vistas, improve wildlife habitat and provide wood products. The White Mountain National Forest is also one of the most heavily visited forests in the national system, with over 6 million visitors each year. Visitors enjoy backpacking, swimming, camping, snowmobiling, scenic driving, skiing and dogsledding.