Planning a trip to the Olympic National Forest

[Gary Kaye]

Either the first or second week of September, I am planning to go to Seattle then spend about 4 or 5 days in the Olympic National Forest. I would like to visit on the way Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach, Second Beach and the Hoh Rain Forest.

Has anyone been to these places and if so can you shed some light on what to expect, places to visit, tips?

Thanks - Gary

[Aram Langhans]

Hey Gary. Welcome to my backyard. Which route are you planning to take? Are you planning to do the whole loop around the peninsula or just part way? Are you camping or motelling? I can certainly list some places along the way. If you are going around to the north, there are many places to see on the way out to the actual coast. You got to eat fresh Dungeness crab from Dupuis in Sequim (pronounced squim)

http://www.dupuisrestaurant.com/

Also in that area is the Dungeness Spit recreational area. A nice walk along the sand spit, especially if it is rather stormy.
In Port Angeles, consider leaving your car behind and taking the ferry to Victoria for the day. Visit the Parliament, the Provincial Museum, and have high tea in the Empress Hotel.
Traveling further east there are some nice small hikes to some waterfalls if you are interested in that.
Also, when you reach the western end of 101 before it heads south you may want to visit Neah Bay and Shi Shi Beach, which is south of there. A nice walk in to the beach and then south on the beach to Point of the Arches for some great photo ops especially at low tide. I use to do a lot of backpacking in that area.
After that you will come to the places you listed and they are all nice. I have hiked from third beach south to the mouth of the Hoh River. About 8 days of bliss.
So, let me know if you are camping or hiking or whatnot. I can modify my suggestions for you depending on your mode of travel.

But I just reread your post and there is a lot to see in 4 or 5 days. Let me know your interests and I can perhaps guide you better.

Aram

[Gary Kaye]

Hi Aram. Thanks for replying. Not sure which route I'm taking but I was looking on Google Maps last evening and I was thinking of going part way around the peninsula from the North. Not into camping any more so the Motel route is the way to go.

Can't go to Victoria because my passport expires in August and I haven't renewed it yet but I've been to Victoria a few times. Wonderful place.

I will be flying to Seattle on Sept 1st and heading to the peninsula that day and staying through Sept 4th, leaving early on the 5th. Then spending four days in the Seattle area.

Any more info you can provide will be great!

[Gary Kaye]

Aram,

One more question. I was looking at the map of the Olympic Forest and Hwy 101 seems to circle the Forest. Is it better to circle down or return north and back around? Do you know anything about traffic patterns especially over the holiday weekend?

Thanks,

Gary

[Aram Langhans]

I have done the full loop only once. From Queets on to Hoquiam, you are inland and for me not much different than any other forest in the area. I don't know about mileage. Looks like it may be a bit longer that way back to Seattle. Then again it depends on what you want to see and how far down you are planning on going anyway. Hoquiam/Grays Harbor is a nice area for tourists. Traffic on the southern route to Olympia and then north can be bad, but then again, catching the Kingston Ferry can also be the pits.

Here is another option. Return via the northern route, but get to Seattle in a bit of a different way. Either taken the ferry from Port Townsend, a nice town to visit, to Whidby Island, then drive north to Deception Pass (impressive, especially when the tide is flowing fast) then down to Seattle from Mt. Vernon. Or go all the way to Gig Harbor and take the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to Tacoma and north to Seattle. The Tacoma Narrows is the bridge that collaped in a wind storm in 1940. You can see newsreels about it on the internet. Big deal up here every November. Great topic for physics class on resonance.

I guess here is what I would do. From Seattle, take the Kingston ferry and go the northern route as far as you want to go. I assume Forks/La Push is your destination. The side trip to Shi Shi for me would be a must. I want my ashes sprinkled at Shi Shi. Then return via the North again, but detour to Port Townsend and spend the afternoon there. Then take the ferry to Whitby Island and go to Deception Pass, then back to Seattle from Mt. Vernon.

Do you have your motel's lined up already?

Aram

[Aram Langhans]

Oh yeah. When you are in Seattle be sure to have a Kidd Valley hamburger. Forget those In-n-Out things. (flame war sensed.) Kidd Vally is the place to be. Or the Red Mill by the zoo. They are good too. Have a Bacon Cheesburger for me.

Aram

[Gary Kaye]

Thanks Aram for the info. I think I will turn around and return northbound. Don't have hotel yet but will be working on it tonight. Since it's a holiday weekend it might be a bit tough.

By the way, I saw a segment on the Red Mill burger place on the food channel and just so happened that the following week I had a trip planned to Seattle. Decided to take everyone there. It was good. I think this time I'll give the Kidd Valley place a try. Will look it up on the net when I get home.

Gary

[Aram Langhans]

There are quite a few Kidd Vallley's around town. They are now owned by Ivar.. I have found the best one is the original one on 25th and 54th, just north of the University Village. Don't ask me why. Not much of a place to sit down in. The others have more seating and look more like a typical fast food joint.

If you have any more questions just let me know.

Aram