News

What to pack for Olympic National Park, region by region: the Ten Essentials, rain gear for the forests, tide gear for the coast and winter needs up high.

Plan a visit to Second Beach and Third Beach near La Push: trail lengths, Quileute parking, wilderness camping, headlands, tides and drift log safety.

Plan a Shi Shi Beach hike: the Makah Recreation Pass, day and overnight parking, the trail to Point of the Arches, tides, camping permits and Makah rules.

A guide to birding in Olympic National Park: seabirds on the coast, rainforest songbirds, Hurricane Ridge grouse and jays, the best seasons and park rules.

Cougars in Olympic National Park are seldom seen. Learn where they live, what they eat and what to do if you see a cougar, using NPS and WDFW guidance.

Where and when to see salmon in Olympic National Park: coho at Salmon Cascades, Chinook in the Elwha, sockeye in the Quinault, and how to watch kindly.

Olympic National Park trees, from Sitka spruce and western red cedar to Douglas fir: how to tell them apart, where they grow and where to see record giants.

Meet the banana slugs of Olympic National Park: how to know a Pacific banana slug, what its slime does, where to find one and how to watch without harm.

Hurricane Ridge in winter: road days and hours, tire chain rules, ranger snowshoe walks, the ski area, sledding and what facilities remain since the lodge fire.

The Hurricane Hill Trail climbs 1.6 paved miles to a 360 degree summit view above Hurricane Ridge. Distance, grades, parking, the Elwha trail and when to go.