The alarm rang very early today, 6:30 a.m.! We were heading to Olympic National Park. A quick breakfast and then we were off west. Shortly after Tacoma, my phone started vibrating and making strange noises. At first, we had no idea where it was coming from, until we noticed. A message about a child abduction appeared on the home screen, warning us to watch out for a car with license plate number so-and-so. It's really shocking how they're using the public information like this. On the one hand, it's great because the perpetrator can be caught more quickly, but on the other hand, it also creates potential for fake news and inappropriate vigilantism. It's a matter of perspective, but this great feature is only available for Android; the iPhone didn't chime.
Hurricane Ridge-Olympic National Park
After about a 2.5-hour drive, we arrived in Port Angeles. This is where the national park begins. Our first destination was Hurricane Ridge. So, after a quick visit to the visitor center, we drove the 17 miles up the mountain to an elevation of 1,598 meters. Along the way, we stopped at viewpoints and found a few geocaches. Once at the top, we went on a short hike to Sunrise Point. From there, you have a fantastic view of the coast, and in the distance, we could even see Mount Rainier. It seems there are ski and snowboard slopes up here in the winter; at least, we found a small ski lift. We highly doubt it's still in use, though. On the way back to the car, we came across a group of deer. They were so tame that they weren't bothered at all while grazing. So, we took as many photos as we could, and then they moved on over the next ridge and disappeared.
Crescent Lake-Olympic National Park
Next, we drove to the Hoh Rain Forest. We had another three hours of driving ahead of us. We passed the 200-meter-deep Crescent Lake with its crystal-clear water, which was formed by a former glacier. Essentially, it's no different from the mountain lakes in the Alps.
Hoh Rain Forest – Olympic National Park
Upon arriving at Hoh Rain Forest, we opted for a shorter trail due to time constraints. We chose the Hall of Mosses Trail, which is about three-quarters of a mile long. This loop winds through the dense rainforest, past clear streams and enormous trees covered in moss. It looks quite eerie with the moss hanging from the trees and bushes like spiderwebs. However, it's incredibly soft and cozy!
When we arrived at the Hall of Mosses, a couple was already running excitedly towards us, telling us to be quiet because there was a huge moose back there. So, camera at the ready, we headed off to see the moose; we could always visit the Hall later. The moose had found a spot to graze and rest, well camouflaged in the bushes. If they hadn't pointed him out to us, we probably would have walked right past him. But that's how he wants it, too—to remain undetected. He was incredibly calm. Eventually, he lay down, and we could hardly see him anymore.
So we finally visited the Hall of Mosses, which was the real reason we were there. This beautiful place, with its ancient, enormous, moss-covered oak trees, was like something out of a dream. The sun shone through the leaves and the light shimmered as if we had stepped into a fairytale world. I wouldn't have been surprised if elves had appeared somewhere. ;)
This little trail is definitely worth it and not too far for children! Since it was a loop, we continued on and didn't have to backtrack. It became a bit dark, and huge ferns lined the path. Some of the trees looked like mangroves because their roots extended so far out of the ground. What we found really great is that the forest is left to develop naturally; if a tree falls, it stays where it is. Apart from the small hiking trail, it's still "untouched" nature.
Ruby Beach – Olympic National Park
Then we continued driving towards the coast: Ruby Beach was our destination. The coastline at Olympic National Park is truly stunning. Here at the beach, a small river flows into the Pacific Ocean. Pure idyll. Especially at sunset. Thousands of photo opportunities and romance, romance, romance! I always find all the driftwood lying around everywhere really fascinating. It's a shame it's so big, otherwise I would have taken some home with me.
As we headed back towards the hotel, we saw the sunset through the trees on the beach, so we stopped briefly and walked towards the coast, and there it was, the most romantic sunset ever. WOW… beautiful!
Okay, now back to the hotel. Another three-hour drive through the evening and darkness. Our GPS led us on some truly amusing routes, through fog-shrouded roads in the middle of nowhere. Hardly any houses and even less traffic. It was a bit like something out of a horror movie. After a quick stop in Olympia, at McDonald's due to time constraints, we had a truly awful dinner. The standard simply can't be compared to Germany. Back home, it's like dining in a restaurant. Once we got to the hotel, we just collapsed into bed, exhausted.
In conclusion, to be honest, Olympic National Park should really be explored in three stages over three days. We crammed everything in as little time as possible and only saw a small part of it.
