LaPush and a Hike on Rialto Beach

Elwha Dam RV park
Port Angeles, WA
July 2018


No, we are not back in Washington, but I do have pictures that I haven't posted from our wonderful time on the Olympic Peninsula.   

My very favorite day during our stay was the visit we made to LaPush and Rialto Beach.  LaPush is the largest community within the Quileute Indian Reservation.  It is situated on the south side of the mouth of the Quillayute River on the west coast.  In fact, it has the westernmost zip code in the contiguous U.S. 

The climate in LaPush is wet, wet and more wet with an average of over 100 inches of rain a year.  Even though July has the lowest amount of recorded rainfall, it was foggy and damp when we were there. 

Tsunami evacuation-route signs were a constant reminder of how vulnerable these small communities are. 

Rialto Beach offers one of the three distinct ecosystems visitors are able to explore as part of Olympic National Park...a rugged Pacific shore.  



It is located on the northern side of the Quillayute River.

    


This was our first visit to the Northern Olympic Peninsula coastline.  I was immediately captivated by the rocky beaches...





enormous drift logs...

pounding waves...

the ocean forest... 

and views of rock islands called sea stacks.    




There is nothing quite like hiking on the scenic Olympic Coast.  We chose to take the 4 mile (round trip) hike to Hole-in-the-Wall.  The trail is the beach itself...walking over sand, rock, driftwood and even a creek.  When we reached Hole-in-the-Wall, the tide was coming in so we couldn't walk through the rocky arch.  Instead we climbed an overland trail above the arch and enjoyed sweeping views.

The trail back to the parking lot from Hole-in-the-Wall...

I'll close with a few more of my favorite pictures from the day.

One of nature's planters at the marina in LaPush'

Tent camping is a big thing at Rialto Beach...

Hole-in-the-Wall

Misty droplets on the flowers at the Lonesome Creek Store in LaPush

The ocean forest at the kiosk where we began our hike on Rialto Beach

Rialto Beach

Sea stacks as we hiked along Rialto Beach

The first view of Hole-in-the-Wall

 Until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS!

Olympic National Park...Hurricane Ridge

Elwha Dam RV park
Port Angeles, WA
July,  2018

Hurricane Ridge, the subalpine forest ecosystem of Olympic National Park, can be accessed by road from Port Angeles.  


Since the ONP Visitor Center is located on the way to the ridge, we made that the first stop of the day.   

There were no measurements for the diameter of this tree, only that it was 670 years old.

The drive up to the ridge is very scenic with lots of twists and turns









and even a few tunnels.  








At an elevation of 5,242 feet, Hurricane Ridge (so named for its susceptibility to hurricane force winds) has it's own VC  with an information desk, gift shop, restrooms and snack bar.  




We arrived early to an almost empty parking lot and enjoyed the short trails in front of the VC.
  
  

Obstruction Point Road is a must do.

It's a gravely 8 mile winding  road that can be narrow in some places to Lillian Ridge.    

Lucky for me, there was no traffic which meant we could make frequent stops.  It was wildflower season after all !

The road was lined with Avalanche Lilies.  A first for me !

 And another first, the Tiger Lily...

 And one more first, a Seep Monkeyflower...

It was a perfect day for viewing...crisp, clean air and beautiful blue skies. 

  

 The road ends at Lillian Ridge where there are several trailheads. We had planned on doing the short hike to Badger Valley, but the trail was covered in snow.
 A few days later, we returned to the ridge to hike Hurricane Hill...another must do.

The trail had been closed our first visit for trail work and the capture of mountain goats (to be relocated).  

The 3.2 mile (round trip) in and out trail may be short, but it is steep with an elevation gain of +652 feet.  









The trail begins near treeline on a paved path (broken up in lots of places for repair).

 It's a gradual climb at first...

then, we found ourselves in the clouds surrounded by alpine meadows ! 

 The trail levels out briefly at the base of Hurricane Hill's glaciated cirque... "A bowl-shaped depression with very steep sides that form at the head of a mountain glacier."...I had to look that up.

 A short section of three switchbacks resume on a steep climb to the top of Hurricane Hill at an elevation of 5,757 feet. 

Hurricane Hill is one of the most visited activities in ONP so go early to get a parking space and avoid larger crowds.  It is well worth it !

Checking out the trail as we begin the return hike.

  So until next time, 

looking down on Port Angeles...

Peek-a-boo...I see you!

Tiny purple flowers caught my eye on Obstruction Point Road

Steep and narrow with something beautiful around every turn...

 

Nature's planter...

Hiking among the clouds...

HAPPY TRAILS !