0 NATIONAL PARK - WASHINGTON UNITED STATES Historic Events DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Olympic 1774 Juan Perez, roving Spanish sea cap­ Harold L. Ickes, Secretary tain, first white man to sight Olympic Mountains, which he named Santa OPEN NATIONAL PARK Rosalia. ALL WASHINGTON YEAR 1788 John Mears, British sea captain, named the highest peak Mount Olympus. WINDING HIGHWAY LAKE CRESCENT. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Newton B. Drury, Director 1880 Earliest explorations made. LYMPIC NATIONAL PARK FORESTS coj\TEj\rs 1904 Bill to establish national park intro­ is a wilderness empire rich with duced in Congress, but failed of pas­ O One of the finest remaining areas of sage. evergreen forests, alpine mead­ virgin forest, Olympic National Park Mount Olympus (Photo by Wm. ows gaily sprinkled with fragrant wild- presents a splendid example of the flowers, snowcapped mountains, azure original forests of the Northwest in O. Thorniley) Cover lakes, lazily winding rivers, and ani­ 1909 President Theodore Roosevelt by proc­ the dense growth which covers the Forests 3 lamation established Mount Olympus mals which roam the forests and val­ mountain slopes and valley floors. National Monument of 620,000 acres. leys. "Rain Forests" 4 The region, extending from 300 to This unspoiled primeval wilderness 1,500 feet in elevation, is comprised of The Olympic Mountains . 4 is destined to be preserved as America's densely forested valleys. Most abundant 1912-1929 Area of monument reduced to "last frontier," yet it is easily accessible trees are Douglas fir, western hemlock, Wildlife Sanctuary .... 5 322,000 acres through withdrawals by Presidential proclamation. to the most inexperienced park visitor. western red cedar, Sitka spruce, west­ Wildflowers 5 Located in the northwest corner of ern white pine, and white fir. the United States, this park occupies Between the 1,500- and 3,500-foot Lakes and Streams .... 6 the heart of the Olympic Peninsula, elevations are found principally western 1937 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt Roads and Trails 6 visited this area. which is washed on three sides by the hemlock and silver fir, with a sprinkling waters of the Pacific Ocean, Strait of of western white pine, Douglas fir, and Administration 13 Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound. western red cedar. Free Public Campgrounds. 13 1988 Olympic National Park of 648,000 acres Cool ocean breezes temper the sum­ Small stands of silver fir and moun­ established June 29 by act of Congress. mer weather of the area, and moderate tain juniper are dominant from the 3,- How to Reach the Park . 14 climate prevails throughout the year. 500-to the 5,000-foot elevations. The Accommodations 14 Little moisture falls in the park in the coniferous trees are mountain hemlock, 1940 January 2. Area of park increased summer. Autumn months often bring Alaskan cedar, and alpine fir. In this Horses and Guides .... 15 187,411 acres through Presidential proc­ warm weather of Indian summer. In area are found most of the meadows. lamation, making present area 835,411 the winter the park high country is Surrounding Attractions . 15 acres. Vegetation above 5,000 feet consists blanketed with snow, making available largely of low plants, including many good skiing and snowshoeing. grasses and sedges. 2 Olympic \\ational Var\ • Washington Olympic TShational Tar\ • Washington 3 which are several miles long, decorate summer months along the river bars the high peaks. The Hoh and Jeffries and in the open, high country, particu­ Glaciers extend down to the 3,400-foot larly on the western slopes. Their num­ level. The highest elevation is reached ber is estimated at over 3,000. at the summit of Mount Olympus, The more fortunate park visitor may which towers 7,954 feet above sea level. glimpse a cougar or coyote, but rarely. Rising sharply from bases almost at Black-tailed deer are numerous on the sea level, the Olympic Mountains are northern and eastern slopes, and black even more impressive than their meas­ bear often are seen, especially when the ured altitude would indicate. Views of blueberries ripen on the mountain the ocean may be enjoyed from many meadows. Other animals found in the mountain summits. park include squirrels, raccoons, skunks, marmots, mink, otter, beaver, and many WILDLIFE SANCTUARY others. Mountain goats are believed to Photo Courtesy Standard Oil Co. of Calif. The unique wilderness aspects ol be increasing. The eagle, hawk, and FEATHERY MOSS DRAPES THE BRANCHES AND TRUNKS OF TREES. Olympic National Park provide a raven nest high among the peaks, while proper setting for a distinctive com­ grouse commonly are seen along the munity of animals that now receive ade­ trails. RAIN FORESTS above the sea. Most of this 12 feet of quate protection. The peer of this ani­ In the lower valleys of the western precipitation falls during the winter mal kingdom is the Roosevelt elk, WILDFLOWERS slopes, nature has taken advantage of rainy season. From June 1 to September native of the Olympic Peninsula but Beautiful wildflowers carpet the al­ the temperate climate. Rain falls almost 1, the average rainfall on the eastern now nearly extinct in other areas. Large pine meadows in riotous color, their slopes of the Olympics is considerably entirely during the winter months, bands of these elk are seen during the blooms representing hundreds of flower less than that in eastern United States. averaging 142 inches annually, and the soil is favorable to produce the best THE OLYMPIC examples of the unique "rain forests." MOUNTAINS ROOSEVELT ELK AT STALDINC CREEK BETWEEN QUINAULT AND QUEETS RIVERS. Unsurpassed elsewhere in the world, Asahel Corn, Photo. The Olympic high country affords a these "rain forests" are truly tropical paradise for the hiker, the mountaineer, in luxuriance, with an undergrowth of or the casual vacationer. vine maple, bigleaf maple, ferns and other jungle-like growth. Mosses drape The rugged Olympic Mountains, with the branches and trunks of trees in fan­ their snow-mantled peaks, tower above tastic patterns. Seedlings, in ancient evergreen forests. They form no defi­ succession, take root on fallen trunks nite ranges, but are scattered without which through the centuries rot away, pattern across the park, centering around lofty Mount Olympus, whose furnishing food for new trees that in three peaks loom above the rest. The turn become forest monarchs. The park high country is a mountain em­ ground is carpeted with moss in many pire with hidden lakes, green ridges places 3 to 6 inches in depth. cut by deep, forested valleys, alpine The heavy rainfall on the western meadows brilliant with wildflowers, and slopes is the result of warm Pacific air sparkling streams. currents striking against the Olympic Mountains, which soar nearly 8,000 feet Numerous active glaciers, some ot 4 Olympic Rational Var\ • Washington species, many of which are not found A vast network of well-marked trails elsewhere in the world. Heavy moun­ lead into and through the park from tain snows protect the plants in winter the ends of the spur roads and make and furnish an abundance of moisture, accessible much of the wilderness area. contributing to their profuse growth in Approximately 400 miles of trails have the summer sunshine. been constructed. The trails are safe and passable for both foot and saddle LAKES AND STREAMS parties. The Olympic Mountains are studded Hurricane Ridge Road. — This with azure lakes. Lake Crescent, winding mountain road leaves Olympic nestled among green mountains at the Highway 9 miles south and west of northern end of the park, is one of the Port Angeles and extends 25 miles to most beautiful lakes in the United Obstruction Point, affording an excel­ States. Lake Quinault and Lake Cush- lent panoramic view of Mount Olym­ man border the corners of the park at pus, Bailey Ridge, Mount Anderson, the southwest and southeast, respec­ tively. Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island, Victoria, B. C, and Port An­ Many rivers, with their cataracts and geles. Trails branch off as follows: falls, wind through the deep canyons Long Ridge-Bailey Range Trail, and wide valleys. Although fed by live providing one of the finest pano­ glaciers, most of the streams are not ramic views in the park, extends heavily burdened with glacial silt, but from lower Elwha near Idaho are clear. Their Indian names often Creek 14 miles up easy switch­ indicate the character of the rivers; for backs to Long Ridge toward example, Soleduck means "sparkling Dodger Point; when completed water." will extend past Mounts Ferry and ROADS AND TRAILS Carrie to High Divide and Boga- Olympic Highway, U. S. 101, leaves chiel Park, approximately 30 miles. the Pacific Highway, U. S. 99, at Olym- Elwha River Trail, adjacent to pia, Wash., and encircles the Penin­ excellent fishing, leaves Hurricane sula, passing through the towns of Shel- Ridge Road 9 miles from Olympic ton, Hoodsport, Sequim, Port Angeles, Highway at Whiskey Bend; to Forks, Aberdeen, and Hoquiam for a Elkhorn Station, 12 miles; to distance of about 368 miles. Approxi­ Hayes River at junction with mately 15 miles of the highway are in Dosewallips-Hayden Pass Trail, the park. It passes along the south shore 17 miles; and to Low Divide of Lake Crescent for a distance of 12 Chalet, 27 miles. miles. Obstruction Point to Moose Approach roads branch from the Lake, 4 miles. Olympic Highway and lead up most of Obstruction Point to Dosemead- the main rivers through charming ows via Moose Lake, foot trail wilderness within the park. only, 12 miles. HUGE DOUGLAS FIR MEASURES 17 FEET 1 INCH IN DIAMETER AND SOARS 221 FEET IN HEIGHT. Olympic relational Var\ • Washington 6 Olympic relational Var\ • Washington 7 MAP OF OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK Olympic Hot Springs Road.— to Bogachiel Peak, 8 miles.