Page 610 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

608  THE P A CIFIC NOR THWEST

2 The Olympic waters also make it a favorite
Peninsula with divers. The historic resort
Lake Crescent Lodge, located
Olympic National Park Head quarters:
n 3002 Mt Angeles Rd, 1 mile S of on the lake’s southern shore,
Port Angeles, (360) 565-3130. is a lovely place to stay. Farther
∑ nps.gov/olym west, the 4-mile- (6.5-km-)
long Rialto Beach offers superb
Bordered by the Pacific Ocean, views of the Pacific Coast, with
the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and its tide pools, sea stacks, rocky
Puget Sound, Washington’s islands, and the Hole in the
Olympic Peninsula is an Wall, a tunnel carved by waves
extraordinary piece of land. The Olympic Peninsula’s Lake Crescent into a cliff. The coastline receives
Its coastline, etched with bays Lodge, located on the shore of the lake the highest rainfall in the state.
and inlets, is peppered with As a result, rainforests carpet
majestic sea stacks – portions and rainforests. Running much of the region. The Hoh
of wave-eroded headlands that through the center of the park Rainforest, with its annual
remain as offshore mounds. are the jagged, glacier-covered rainfall of 14 ft (4 m), is a magical
Some of the country’s most Olympic Mountains. With its place, lush with Sitka spruce,
pristine mountains, beaches, West Peak rising to a height of Douglas fir, yew, and red cedar,
and forestlands can be found 7,965 ft (2,428 m), the three- draped with moss. Ancient
in this remote region. peaked Mount Olympus is the trees here tower to nearly
Sitting on the northwest highest mountain in the range. 300 ft (91 m) in height, and
tip of the peninsula, historic The park headquarters are even the ferns grow taller than
Port Townsend is known for its located in Port Angeles, a the hikers. Rainforests also
Victorian architecture and working port town. Sitting in surround the shores of
vibrant arts community. The the rain shadow of the Olympic Lake Quinalt. Snowcapped
1982 movie An Officer and a Mountains, Sequim (pro- mountains encircle this glacial
Gentleman was filmed here. nounced “Squim”) features lake, which attracts fishermen
To its south, Port Gamble, a an elk viewing site and the and swimmers alike.
former logging town on the Olympic Game Farm, home Wildlife is plentiful in the
Kitsap Peninsula, has retained its to endangered animals. South- Olympic Peninsula – deer
original New England Victorian- west of Sequim, Hurricane and bear abound, and the
style homes, country store, Ridge offers panoramic views Olympic National Park has
and church. of the Olympic Mountains, the the country’s largest herd of
The centerpiece of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Roosevelt elk. The peninsula
peninsula is the sprawling Vancouver Island from its offers a wide range of outdoor
Olympic National Park (see p44), 5,230-ft- (1,594-m-) high recreation activities; among
a UNESCO biosphere reserve summit. In spring, the ridge is the most popular pursuits are
and World Heritage Site. covered with wildflowers. fly- and deep-sea fishing,
Encompassing 923,000 acres To the west, is the picturesque kayaking, whitewater rafting,
(373,540 ha), this biologically Lake Crescent area. Trout fishing mountain biking, hiking, and
diverse park is a treasure-trove is the main draw in this bird-watching. Skiing and
of snowcapped mountain 625-ft- (190-m-) deep fresh- snowshoeing are popular
peaks, lakes, waterfalls, rivers, water lake, whose crystal-clear winter activities.

The majestic Olympic Mountains in Olympic National Park
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp632–3 and pp634–5

608-609_EW_USA.indd 608 11/2/16 2:48 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm