The Olympic Peninsula boasts some of the most spectacular terrain in the country and unique natural wonders you’ll ever experience. Here are a few one-of-a-kind destinations that are all about nature.
- The complex ecosystem of Olympic National Park ranges from seashore to glacier-capped mountains, and temperate rainforest to alpine meadows. Designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, this natural and cultural treasure is home to wilderness and wildlife found nowhere else on earth.
- The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the last surviving areas of temperate rain forest and one of the most popular destinations in the Pacific Northwest. The Hoh brims with towering trees, lush green growth and spectacular waterfalls. It’s also where One Square Inch of Silence, deemed the quietest place in the U.S, has been identified.
- Surrounded by the Olympic Mountains, Lake Crescent is considered one of the crown jewels of the Olympic Peninsula. The official depth of this glacially-carved lake is 624 feet, though some claim it’s bottomless. Crystal clear waters make it a popular destination for paddlers, anglers and seekers of natural beauty.
- Formed by a glacier around 13,000 years ago, fishhook-shaped Hood Canal is rich with unique underwater flora and fauna. The 68-mile saltwater fjord is a favorite spot for divers who want to get up close to giant Pacific octopus, wolf eels, rockfish and anemones.
- Jutting out from the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula, the 5.5-mile long Dungeness Spit is the longest natural sand spit in the United States. A wildlife-lovers dream, the spit is home to the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, a haven for birds, marine life and land mammals.
- Marine mammals, birds, fish and thriving intertidal communities form a living sanctuary off the rugged Olympic Peninsula coastline. Spanning nearly 3,200 square nautical miles, the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary offers a whole lot to explore. The Olympic Coast Discovery Center in Port Angeles is a great place to start.
