Continued on next page« Previous Next »
16. The Mount Ellinor Hike
Also on our list of best hikes in this park, is this challenging hike. It has a distance of between 3.2 to 6.2 miles. Depending on your specific choices, the total ascent is a minimum of 2,400 feet but could go as high as 3,300 feet. Thus, you need to set aside at least three hours if not five.
Your reward here is the pretty panoramic views out over the well-known Olympic Peninsula and beyond to Mount Baker and Mount Rainier. Mount Ellinor is one of Olympic National Park’s highest mountains. It’s located on the park’s eastern side.
You actually have a choice of two hiking strategies in order to reach Mount Ellinor’s peak. One is a hike that has more of a gradual ascent but is longer. The other is shorter in length but is significantly steep. Of course, as it is with many hikes, you want to avoid heading out when it is especially cloudy or even drizzly. You want to be able to see you can in Olympic Park everything when you get to the top so clarity is king here.
17. Hike East Fork Quinault River Trail to Enchanted Valley
Last but certainly not least on this list of best hikes in the park, is this two to four-day adventure. It encompasses a distance of 26 miles and is rated as strenuous. Your journey begins near lovely Lake Quinault.
This is an exciting overnight backpacking trip where you hike to the Enchanted Valley Chalet. You take the popular East Fork Quinault River Trail for 13 miles. You hike through lush, old-growth forest ‘til you arrive at the chalet.
Keep an eye out for local wildlife too. You may very well spot bears, coyotes, deer, elk, and even mountain lions as you hike this trail. Your best bet is to consider this a fun overnight backpacking trip.
Get an Olympic permit ahead of time. With your permit, you will be able to camp overnight at Enchanted Valley, O’Neil Creek, Pony Bridge, or Pyrites Creek. Be aware that as this goes to press, the national park service may have decided to tear down and remove the old chalet.
18. Some Other Olympic Park Recommendations
Veteran visitors favor the Klahhane Ridge Trail to Mount Angeles hike for its enjoyable rock scrambling and incredible views of the park. Recommended first-timer treks include the Rialto Beach to Hole-in-the-Wall hike, the Hurricane Hill hike, and the Hoh Rainforest hikes as well.
Continued on next page« Previous Next »
Related Posts
The Righteous Brothers: The Bitter Rivalry Behind Soul’s Greatest Sound
They were never blood relatives, and if you believe the whispers from the smoke-filled recording booths of the early 1960s, they barely even liked each other. The…
The Dark Reality Behind The Mamas and the Papas 1967 Hit
In the summer of 1967, the world was humming along to the bright, sun-drenched harmonies of The Mamas and the Papas. Their sound was the golden standard…
The Heartbreaking Silence Behind The Righteous Brothers Legendary Harmony
In the golden age of the mid-sixties, when the airwaves were dominated by the British Invasion and the crackle of AM radio, two voices rose above the…
The Righteous Brothers and the Unchained Melody Resurrection
It is the haunting opening sequence that defined a generation. A potter’s wheel spins, hands entwine, and the ethereal, soaring notes of a forgotten masterpiece fill the…
The Hidden Scandal Behind Rick James and His 1981 Masterpiece
In the gilded, cocaine-dusted hallways of the early 1980s music industry, few figures burned as brightly or as recklessly as Rick James. By 1981, the funk superstar…
The Dark Secret Behind The Kinks Waterloo Sunset Revealed
When the soft, shimmering melody of Waterloo Sunset first graced the airwaves in 1967, the world heard a melancholic love letter to London. Millions of fans, mesmerized…