Shirley, British Columbia

As soon as you arrive in Olympic National Park, the first thing you’ll want to do is get out of the car and lose yourself in the deep forests, towering peaks, and endless lakes and waterfalls. Spend the night at one of the beautiful lodges near the Port Angeles entrance and spend your days explor...

A vacation to Olympic National Park provides endless opportunities for exploration. Immerse yourself in the emerald forest on a tour of the Quinalt Rainforest or go for a dip in one of the park’s picturesque and refreshing lakes. Spend the night camping under the stars or treat yourself to a long...

If you’re an avid hiker and backpacker, a trip to Olympic National Park needs to be on your to-do list. Even if you’re new to backpacking, there’s quite the dynamic mix of backcountry adventures below; one of these trails is sure to meet your needs. Some of the most spectacular views in the whole...

Whether it’s gliding across the lake on a kayak, taking a guided boat tour, or sticking to the trail on a hike, you’re going to fall in love with these alpine lakes in Olympic National Park. Make a long weekend out of it and stay at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort for a few nights and every advent...

Olympic National Park is home to everything that adventure travelers think of when the PNW comes to mind. Lush green forests, raging waterfalls and rivers, beautiful hiking trails, and soothing hot springs dot the map of this incredible park. You can even book guided boat tours on some of the par...

We hiked 17.7 miles in total. A year ago I would've cringed at the thought of such a distance, believing that there was no way I could travel long distances without suffering from my knee pain. Back then, anything over 8 miles with a decent incline would cause throbbing aches in my leg. One of my...

Known for its lush and moody rainforest, Olympic National Park is so much more than what first meets the eye. Ninety-five percent of its 920,000-plus acres is designated as Wilderness, and inside the park's boundaries, you'll find lakes, mountains, and a breathtaking wild coastline along the Paci...

While one could spend an entire lifetime exploring all the peninsula has to offer, a long weekend will give you just enough of a glimpse to fall in love with it and inspire you to return again and again! Arrive at the spectacular Lake Quinault Lodge in the early evening to enjoy a sunset on the l...

All photos shot for Dirt Road Travels. For my first trip to the PNW I got the chance to hike through a rainforest and camp on a spectacular beach in Olympic National Park. It's one of the least visited national parks, which is an absolute shame.  The hike in is gorgeous and mysterious So north...

Olympic National Park, located in northwest Washington proves to be an excellent destination for the adventurer of any kind. With multi-night backpacking trips all the way to drive through zoos, the Olympic Peninsula is the perfect destination for families, climbers, hikers, and backpackers alike...

We left Edmonds at 5am with high spirits as we drove south to our first stop of the day, High Steel Bridge. Two and a half hours of driving brought us outside of Shelton as we veered onto a forest road just as the first breaking of pre-dawn light graced our presence. Up we climbed among the loggi...

The hike for Mt. Storm King can be found here. This hike is truly amazing and no walk in the park. If you tried this hike at all right after the winter season then you know that it was quite tricky. Well, there were no ropes. So that added some much needed danger to this hike (sarcasm).   Now th...

To start,since moving here back in October, I have been wanting to see these giant rocks emerging from the coast. So getting two days off in a row finally and the weather being somewhat decent I went for it. Leaving from the Tacoma area we embarked on our quest up highway 16. Getting to see The N...

During my recent visit to the Pacific Northwest for the first time I had the opportunity to visit Olympic National Park. Growing up and living in the American Southwest it is hard to imagine that a place like this could even exist. While enormous, the park is the greenest place I have ever seen a...

Was it my best hike of the year? Absolutely. Was I worried the end was nigh? Certainly. I flew to Seattle for Labor Day weekend to continue my national parks quest. I was going to check Olympic National Park off the list. The primary objective in Olympic was to explore the Royal Basin. I was attr...

"Yup, I'm stuck." The thought went through my head as one hand numbly held the mossy canyon wall while the other gripped the fly rod handle. Below me the turquoise water of the Duckabush River swirled by before it exited the narrow canyon and into a deep pool. "Don't be dumb." Taking a swim in th...