If it were me i would go out of port townsend, which is not that far from port angeles and is the loveliest on the olympic peninsula if you have the time to visit. Hello experts, thank you in advance for your advice. The olympic coast national marine sanctuary offers several locations along. Your visitor guide to vacation in olympic national park.
The high mountains offer snow, glaciers, wilderness and if you time it right acres of wildflowers. Glacier bay national park and preserve jessica andrewshanna, share the. Spend a day in olympic national park, named a unesco world heritage site due to the widelyvaried ecosystems within its borders. I enjoy photography and the more scenic of the two would be my.
Whale watching kalaloch lodge at olympic national park. When is the best time for port angeles whale watching. The park is a sanctuary, offering peace, solitude and the opportunity to enjoy rare natural quiet among natural sound. Olympic national park and forest is the best of both worlds. Volunteers and scientists freed a young gray whale this weekend that had washed up on the shores of olympic national park. Glacier capped mountains, wild pacific coast and magnificent stands of oldgrowth forests, including temperate rain forests at olympic national park, you can find all three. Western spend time for part of the day relaxing near the inspiring pacific ocean, then, if the mood strikes you, you could find yourself in a lush rain forest one hour later. The park s ecosystem features an impressive biodiversity making it an ideal place to explore via hiking, kayaking, or skiing, and activities such as. The companies advertise but just wonder when you might really see them. The national park service is modifying its operations on a. Olympic national park, ecologically diverse area occupying much of the olympic peninsula in northwestern washington, u.
Just offshore, whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, and sea otters feed in the pacific ocean. Whales on the olympic coast in washington my olympic park. While you are on the whale trail download the free mobile application, whale alert. Book an exciting boat ride on the waters surrounding the peninsula and uncover the amazing world of gray and humpback whales. Olympic national park is about 100 miles west of seattle as the crow flies and the ferry rides. Prior to protection measures in the last 60 years, gray whale population numbers were critically low due to overharvesting. Whale watching at olympic national park whale watching cruises are one way to spot large marine mammals, but there are also many locations near the park where you can watch right from the shore.
Whale watching or sea kayaking olympic national park. Fascinating and educational olympic peninsula whale watching excursions are a mustdo for visitors of all ages. If you choose to visit a national park, please ensure that you follow cdc and state and local. Favorite whale watching spots near olympic national park port townsend marine science center. Your chances of seeing orcas is far better in the area around the san juan islands. Dead gray whale found on olympic coast is 24th on pacific. If youre staying near the olympic national park or are west of seattle, port angeles is the departure location for you. I am thinking of going to visit either the san juan islands orcas island or olympic national park onp. Ruby beach, rialto beach and second beach are favorites any time of the year.
Thats because whale watching in olympic national park offers the unique opportunity to see majestic gray whales as they migrate from their breeding grounds in baja california up the coast to the bering strait, and back again. Several hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty begin in this area, and wildlife sightings of some sort are almost guaranteed. Whale watch tours from the olympic peninsula island adventures. Can anyone recommend a whale watching excursion from port angeles. The 8 destinations you must see in washingtons olympic national park. And yes, waterfalls really are everywhere on the olympic peninsula. Tucked away in out little corner of america, those who flock to the wilderness around olympic national park are a special breed, full of adventure, excitement and a love of the natural world. Within the park there are three distinct ecosystems which are subalpine forest and wildflower meadow, temperate forest, and the. Olympic national park, near port angeles and sequim, washington. Follow this guide for five memorable days of magical, awefilled forays into the olympic national park. Together we can encourage the us navy to protect the natural sounds that make olympic national park such a special place. The 24foot whale was released after responders from the national ocean.
The olympic natl park beaches are moving and unforgettable. If you want to see the best of what washington state has to offer, head over to the olympic peninsula. And the parks stunning coast offers some of the countrys. Gray whales can sometimes be seen off the coast of the peninsula or feeding at the mouths of certain rivers. Bryan talks with park ranger greg marsh at olympic national park about. Seven heavenly beach escapes in olympic national park.
From there enjoy a leisurely 30 minute winding ride with panoramic views up to the visitor center. The amazing views olympic national park has to offer are not found only. Port angeles is strategically located on the north coast of the olympic peninsula. Port angeles isnt really a center for whale watching. Olympic national park, washington vacation travel guide. With sea stacks, tide pools, and a chance to see seals, otters and even a whale, the four mile round trip hike is ideal. Gray whale stranded on olympic national park beach originally published august 18, 2017 at 6. Port townsend is a 45minute drive from olympic national park, and is perhaps the best single departure point for whale watching in the continental united states.
There are resident pods there again no guarantees, but this is one of the best places in the world to see orcas. Explore the northern part of the olympic peninsula, as your guide determines the best stops for the interests of the group. Npca recognizes olympic national park and its wild surroundings as a unique part of americas heritage. Boasting scenic lakes, icecapped mountains, glaciers, rugged coastlines, and a temperate rainforest, the park is popular with outdoor enthusiasts and scientists alike. The best time of year for port angeles whale watching is from march until. Always check a tide chart before heading out to view whales, especially if you plan to hike along the.
No more sending them to pet hotels or leaving them home alone to run amok in the house. Olympic hot springs olympic national park 2020 all you. Olympic national park petfriendly hotels are perfect for weekend escapes with your pooch, kitty, bird, or fish. My husband and i will be in bellingham for work july 2224. I am visiting seattle this week and will have 34 days free midweek.
There are different class ratings found throughout the park, so beginners and experts will be thrilled to see what olympic has to offer. With temperate rainforests, snowcapped mountains, and driftwoodstrewn beaches, the olympic national park is the stuff that dreams are made of. From domaine madeleine, this entrance to olympic national park is just 15 minutes away. The cottages have it all from living rooms with fireplaces, sofa sleepers, and large televisions to. Port angeles whale watching, olympic peninsula tours.
Kalaloch is among the best places in the world to watch one of natures biggest attractions. Although kalaloch lodge advertises whale tours as one of their activities, i dont think the tours leave from anywhere near kalaloch. Olympic is also known for its biological diversity. The lush, verdant hoh rainforest is unlike anything else in the lower 48, and home to roosevelt elk, black bears and other charismatic wildlife. Although water is a big part of grays harbor, there are still beautiful landbased places to visit and enjoy. Download your own mammal, amphibian and reptile list. Olympic national park national park, washington, united. Olympic national parks absolute mustsee destinations. Evergreen escapes olympic national park tour with nature walks or snowshoeing allinclusive small group tour discover the olympic peninsula with an expert naturalist on our olympic national park tour from seattle. Gray whale stranded in olympic national park youtube.
Be prepared for the time of your life at the lodges of olympic national park and forest. Olympic national park travel guide expert picks for your. It was designated a unesco world heritage site in 1981. You may see resident or transient orcas, gray whales and sometimes humpbacks. Turn your trip into a family getaway by booking a stay at one of the petfriendly hotels in olympic national park for you and your furry kids. The smithsonian magazine names port angeles, washington as one of the countrys top whalewatching destinations. The 10 best hotels in olympic national park for 2020 from. Olympic national park is situated on 1,406 square miles of land sheltering an abundance of glaciated mountain peaks, a oneofakind rainforest, and 57 miles of the pacific coastal wilderness. Gray whale stranded on olympic national park beach the. Prime whale watching sights include kalaloch, rialto, and shi shi beaches. Top 10 places to view wildlife around olympic national park. A juvenile gray whale is stranded on a section of beach in the olympic national park, in the kalaloch. Hiking one of the olympic national park beaches, is a good alternative to snow play.
Hoteller i port angeles ved olympic national park hoteller i forks vest for olympic national park. Port angeles is a premier whale watching destination located just outside the popular olympic national park. Exploring olympics dynamic landscape is like visiting three parks in one. In a short period of time, we can go to wherever the whales are, whether points north, south, east, or west. The citys olympic national park visitor center provides the usual range of information, books, and maps, as well as handson exhibits on the parks human and natural history.
Get information on olympic national park hotels, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, sightseeing, and activities. Ruby beach gets its name from rosecolored gemstone fragments found in the grey sand. Many locations have interpretive signs that describe the marine life likely to be viewed there. The five standalone cottages in a pristine setting near port angeles exemplify luxury and comfort.
Olympic national park said a decomposing gray whale washed ashore friday morning north of kalaloch campground. Youd have to take the ferry over to victoria for whale watching trips, or if youre going to be in the san juan islands, go when youre there in august, the chances of seeing gray whales migrating along the pacific coast is low. Olympic national park is an american national park located in the state of washington, on the olympic peninsula. Let us help you begin your fantastic adventure by downloading our free vacation guide. Volunteers save young gray whale stranded in olympic. Our work ends at 4pm on sunday july 24 and we have time for adventure until thursday, july 28 when our flight leaves seattle at 1pm.
Those famous pnw clouds hang low, giving the whole area an ethereal quality. Everything to know about washingtons olympic national park. As part of the olympic national park, the shoreline of ruby beach offers scenic views of mountains, glaciers, rainforests, and lots of wilderness. Living near olympic national park, i am lucky enough to be able to meet and converse with some of the most outdoorsy people in the world. I suspect that you would have to drive to port angeles, which is a long way away. Originally established as a national monument in 1909 and redesignated a national park in 1938, it preserves the olympic mountains and their magnificent forests and wildlife. To read the entire content of this olympic national park vacation page, please go to s. Whale watching at olympic national park my olympic park. Part of the whale trail, the olympic coast offers many opportunities to view whales during their migration seasons of april may and october november. Considered to be one of the classic, beach day hikes in olympic national park the trek down rialto beach to hole in the wall is easy, beautiful and a perfect representation of the ruggedness of the washington coast.
I am researching ideas for how to spend those three full days and i am completely torn between vancouver island and olympic np. What time of year is best to see whales on a day tour. Save the wild natural sounds of the olympic peninsula. About 95% of the park is designated wilderness, which further protects these diverse and spectacular ecosystems. Responders free juvenile gray whale stranded on olympic national. Gray whale stranded near olympic national park it appears the 25foot whale is in poor body condition as if its been struggling to feed, according to researchers. The humpback whale is making a slow comeback since the practice of whaling hunting whales decimated the population in the early 1900s. At olympic national park in washington, you dont have to choosebecause it has everything. Olympic national park loop tour washington state tours. A hidden haven forest cottages, set on 20 secluded acres near olympic national park, are ideal for couples, small families, and solo travelers. There are tons of fun things to do in olympic national park. Book the best olympic national park hotels on tripadvisor. Experience the beauty of olympic and its forests while enjoying the thrill of riding the currents of its rivers. Here are 10 reasons to visit olympic national park.
Olympic national park, washington white water rafting. In recent years, the surrounding waters have become one of the leading destinations for viewing humpback whales in north america. Ruby beach is located in the olympic peninsula on the southwest side of the olympic national park. Both mammaleating and salmoneating orcas are often seen in the area as well.
1423 232 269 24 1204 1565 1430 662 1330 261 1093 150 1256 412 1484 775 1515 207 1102 944 997 155 77 1451 1114 804 1116 1432 719 811