In general, things are sorted with the newest items near the tops of albums and galleries.
Much of the Olympic peninsula is covered in forests of various ages. Nearly everything outside Olympic National Park has been logged extensively. The trees grow quickly though, and new life fights for every niche.
Mt. Hopper is a 6,114ft peak rising from the headwaters of the Skokomish River in the south part of the Olympic Mountains. It's not a technical peak to climb, but very rewarding with great views of jagged peaks all around.
The Skokomish River flows from the southern part of the Olympic Mountains southeast to Hood Canal, connecting to Puget Sound.
Dungeness Spit is a sand bar extending about 4 miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is administered as the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors can walk the entire length of the spit on the seaward side (the other side is reserved for wildlife) to a lighthouse at the end.
Mt. Elinor is a minor peak at the south end of the Olympic Mountains - just north of Lake Cushman. It's one of the more accessible peaks in the Olympics - with a good trail all the way to the top.
Hiking trails head up both the Dungeness River and Royal Creek to the alpine wilderness above. With a little determination, one can connect the ends of the trails by walking a ridge line from Mt. Mystery to Constance Pass.
This gallery includes images from explorations around the northeastern part of Olympic National Park.
This gallery includes images from explorations around the northeastern part of Olympic National Park.
The Enchanted Valley is a meadow in the upper reaches of the Quinault River, framed by giant cliffs and waterfalls in the heart of the Olympic Mountains. It's a 13.5 mile hike in to the valley from the nearest trailhead.
The Olympic Coast remains mostly rugged and wild, with the most dramatic parts only accessible by those who make a special effort.
The Hoh Rainforest is the kind of place you imagine a temperate rainforest might be. it's a landscape filled with carpets of moss, curtains of lichen, and towering ancient trees.
Mt. Lena, Upper Lena Lake, and surrounding areas... Upper and Lower Lena Lakes are in the south part of the Olympic Mtn Range. The trailhead is along Hamma Hamma River road, about 9 miles west of US101. The climbing route to The Brothers also starts at this trailhead, and passes Lower Lena Lake. You'll need a NW Forest Pass to park at the trailhead. Lower Lena Lake is quite popular, so don't expect to find any solitude there.
Mt. Olympus is located in the heart of Olympic National Park. As it is surrounded by long forested valleys, and jagged snowy peaks, it is difficult to see from any vantage point along a road. Before planning a trip, be sure to negotiate the rules/regulations of the national park. The climbing route isn't really straightforward... If you haven't been to the top before, it can be really tricky to know just where to cross certain ridges and start the final rock pitch to the summit - be sure to do your homework before you go!
The very heart of the Olympic Mountains is around Anderson Pass. It takes a full day to walk there from any direction.
The Brothers is a twin summit peak in the southeast part of the Olympic Mountains, prominently visible from Seattle on a clear day. It's a popular, fun climb in the late spring.
Mt. Steel is a 6,225ft mountain in the south-central part of the Olympic range. It's a fun climb when the conditions are good.