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
Imagine a scenic, wild landscape with animals that roam freely, cascading waterfalls, and mountains that seem to scrape the pale blue sky. This is what one thinks when first hearing the name Yosemite National Park. Unfortunately, the reality is completely opposite. Yosemite is now under a federally regulated Class 1 area under the Clean Air Act, which is equivalent to the pollution of Los Angeles (“National Parks Service”). It is a sad comparison to the past John Muir, who first documented Yosemite Valley, to today’s reality. The condition of Yosemite National Park should be introduced to the American public in order to protect its historic beauty and significance, eliminate current pollution, and prevent future repercussions.
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.
The coast of Washington is rich with the history of early America. While much of the United States was still in its infancy, Washington was thriving with industry. Though the industry was large, the towns were just beginning to grow.
A surprising fun fact about the Grand Canyon is that it is one of the few natural la...
For most Americans, traveling to and from home is relatively simple. Travel in most of the United States is on paved roadways, and most roadways draw very little attention from conservationist groups. This, however, is not the case for residents in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Located just beyond the south entrance to the park is the visitors center and ranger station. Here you can find maps to trails, information about camping, fishing and boating, and information about the flora and fauna to be found within the park. This is a good place to start your visit, get oriented, and plan your day.
The Olympic Peninsula is in the upper northeast corner of Washington State. The Pacific Ocean, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Hood Canal border the extensive forests, mountains, and beaches that contributes to a pristine environment. Right in the center of the Olympic Peninsula is the Olympic National Park. President Franklin Roosevelt designated this area the Olympic National Park in 1938 after he acknowledged the need to preserve such unspoiled land. Unfortunately he made an effort far too late because settlers and entrepreneurs with industrialist ideologies made their mark on the untouched land in 1910.
We were surrounded by old trees and spotted lots of cacti. We would also see a few squirrels here and there. Our trail had a view of the other side of the mountain which was stunning. We
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.
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
This trip starts from Denver, Colorado to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. “Natural landform” is the main theme for this trip. I will explore the mystery of geothermal features in Yellowstone National Park.
Fig Grove (part of the Park) – The grove features two popular water features, 10 mature fig trees, historic relics to see, and
Washington is one state full of fabulous natural attractions that visitors are sure to enjoy. One of the state's finest natural attractions is the Olympic National Park near Seattle. This national park has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve. As home to Washington's temperate rain forests and alpine mountain climates, the Olympic National Park is one of the most biologically diverse areas to be found on the entire planet. This means that visitors to this fantastically beautiful national park will have the opportunity to see some of the state's most interesting wildlife and vegetation. Overall, Olympic National Park is a nature lover's paradise just waiting to be discovered.
Thomson, Steve. "Saving B.C's Forests through the Trees." The Filipino Post 12-18 July 2012: 12. Print.