Exploring Washington's Olympic Peninsula | Travel
Even though my husband and I are both from Oregon and had both been to Washington several times before, neither one of us had ever ventured to the Olympic Peninsula. We had no idea just how remote this far-flung corner of the United States truly is, so I wanted to give you a list of tips to prepare yourself with should you ever feel like making the journey there yourself.
And I DO recommend you make the journey. The gorgeous, otherworldly plant life in the Olympic National Park is reason enough to make the trip. 👇
Tip #1: Visit the Hall of Mosses
The Hall of Mosses is a nature trail located in the Hoh Rainforest inside the Olympic National Park. The Hoh Rainforest is probably one of the biggest tourist hotspots on the peninsula, but trust me, it’s popular for a reason. I wish that I had taken more photos on the trail because there were so many other unique sights to see, namely the old growth forests and cascading waterfalls of moss hanging from the trees.
For me, walking on this trail felt like a religious experience. Trust me, you won’t regret visiting!
Tip #2: Stop and listen
Did you know that the Hoh Rainforest is the quietest place in the contiguous 48 states? Even airplanes are forbidden from flying overhead.
Maybe you’ll think this sounds a little corny or woo-woo or something, but one of my favorite parts of our trip was when we stopped at a river for a few minutes during one of our hikes and just listened to the sounds of nature. (We also took some pictures when we were finished. Of course.)
Back when Sam and I were in community college, one of the only classes we took together was Environmental Science, and for one of our field trips, we went on a hike with our professor through an old growth forest. In the middle of the hike, he stopped the class and instructed us to take five minutes to collectively sit in silence and listen to the sounds of the forest. I’ll have to admit—at first I thought he was nuts. But it turned out to be an experience I’ll never forget.
Relax. Let your mind wander. Be at peace.
Tip #3: Research before you go
There were a few times during our trip that we made some pretty big blunders.
Here’s what I’ll say: If you’re going to take a ferry to one of the islands off the coast of the peninsula, make sure you look up times in advance. We were under the impression that you could just show up to the port and take a ferry at any time… yeah, that’s completely not true. Don’t do that!
Our second mistake was assuming you could visit Cape Flattery without a park pass. In order to visit this popular tourist destination, you’ll need to buy a separate pass from the Makah Tribe, which is located nearby.
But I definitely recommend Cape Flattery as a stop on your route. It’s quite a drive to get there, but the scenery was breathtaking. The trail to get there was also a fun experience—interesting and easy to navigate.
Tip #4: Plan to lose cell service
I was honestly surprised by how little cell phone service we had while traveling on the peninsula. It was fine in the cities and towns, but as soon as you ventured out into the wilderness, BAM, our phones went into ‘SOS’ mode almost every time.
Because of this, I would definitely recommend that you bring a paper map in case you lose your GPS capabilities, some spare snacks, a first aid kit, extra water, toilet paper, and whatever other survival items you want to keep in your car. The whole time we were on this trip, I realized we weren’t prepared for how remote we were going to be.
You might be further than you think you are from bathrooms, restaurants, gas, and… well, pretty much everything.
Tip #5: Leave no trace
One of the reasons my husband and I love the PNW so much is because of how clean it is. We rarely see garbage on nature trails, on the beach, or even on the side of the road—and I’m sure you can understand why everyone here wants to keep it that way.
You can even go one step further. If you DO see any litter during your travels in the PNW, do everyone a favor and pick it up!
Every time my mom and I go to the coast in Oregon, we always carry two bags with us. One bag is for seashells and interesting driftwood, and the other is for picking up trash. You might say, “Well it’s not my job to pick up after other people.” And you’re right. But it’s also no one else’s job either, so you can either complain about your favorite beach looking dirty, or you can get up and do something about it.
Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox. I don’t want to end my list of five tips on a lecture!
I sincerely hope that this list leaves you more prepared and motivated to explore the untamed wilderness of the beautiful Olympic Peninsula. It’s quickly become one of my favorite places in the entire world, and I really hope to return there someday soon. ❤️