Olympic National Park

We finally made it to Olympic National Park, one place that I have wanted to visit for many years.  It sits at the northwestern top of Washington, so it is quite a drive from Arizona.  Now, Sandy, Jerry, Don and I have been to the national parks in the far reaches of America:  Acadia in Maine, the Florida Everglades, Saghuaro National Monument in the Southwest and Olympic.  All four corners!

 It took us a bit over 2 and a half hours to drive up to the Visitor Center here, near Port Angeles.  It was a beautiful day, with plenty of sunshine.  We were thankful for that, since we brought a picnic lunch with us.  The map below was at the visitor center, showing us all the stopping places along the perimeter (there is NO road through this enormous park)  Hwy 101 encircles the park, and it would take a full day of driving with no stopping to go around it.

 Fall was in the air, and the Vine Maple by the Visitor Center was showing off its autumn colors.

We drove up a gently winding road to Hurricane Ridge, which gives you breathtaking scenery and a view of the mountain range, complete with numerous mountain tops and peaks.  Yes, it was sunny, but the wind was chilly up there.  We were pleased that we brought our jackets along.

This sign was posted in front of the mountain range at the Visitor Center, allowing us to figure out all the different peaks. Here, winter snow lingers into early summer.

 And to prove that we were there, and not swiping pictures off the Internet, here are actual photos of us in front of Mt. Olympus!