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Today we explored the immense Olympic National Park.  This park is a mosaic of ecosystems, including wilderness beaches, snow-fed rivers, ancient trees sheltering wildlife, and rugged peaks embracing glaciers and subalpine meadows.  Coast, forest, and mountain combine to create this spectacular wilderness park. Established in 1909 as a National Monument, it became Olympic National Park in 1939.  It was a typical rainy, cool day for us to explore Olympic, so pictures may again be somewhat hazy.  Please take a look at this amazing gift to America.

Washington's Welcome sign...state ouline with a big red apple!

Crossing Port Gamble on a very long bridge across Puget Sound, WA

Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake with Olympic Mountains in the background

Crescent Lake was created by a glacier

Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake with more Olympic Mountains behind it

Look at the Crescent Lake water through the trees...this is truly the amazing color of all the water...so clear

Elderberry bush beside the lake

Driving into Hoh Rainforest...this is the Hoh River

Hoh River as we head toward the rainforest

Hoh River

Massive tree trunk of the Monarch Sitka Tree

Largest Sikta Spruce tree in Olympic National Park
By the way, Meriwether Lewis offered the first drawing & description of the Sitka Spruce

Lush vegitation in the temperate climate Hoh Rainforest

Moss everywhere

More moss abounding

Exposed roots of a fallen tree providing habitats for plants & wildlife

Lush flora & fauna in Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park

Heading thru the Hoh Rainforest...with the trees leaning toward the road to gain access to sunlight.

Olympic National Park Pacific Coastal Area...this is Ruby Beach

Looking north at Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach

Olympic Coastal Area....Beach 4

A streambed in a draw through the forest...and we can see the waves breaking in the Pacific Ocean

Looking up Kalaloch Creek...near Kalaloch Lodge

Driftwood abounds at the Kalaloch Beach area of the Olympic N:P Coastal area