The Olympic Peninsula, as the name suggests, is located in Washington State and is a large piece of land that lies across the Puget Sound. It’s also where the Olympic National Park is located, but we’ll provide more information on that in a minute.
Geography - The Olympic Peninsula is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the West, by the Hood Canal to the East, and by the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the North. Both the Northwesternmost Point (Cape Flattery) and the Westernmost point of the United States (Capa Alava) are located on the Olympic Peninsula, making it pretty famous. History The Olympic Peninsula was formed approximately 50 million years ago, making it one of the newest additions to the Western Coast of the United States. It was shaped by pieces of the earth’s crust grinding together, along with constant erosion and changes from ice and water. However, because of it being among the furthest reaches of the contiguous United States, it wasn’t mapped until the start of the 1900’s, and it contained many unreached places until quite recently.
Things To Do
Although the Peninsula itself was unreached until late, comparatively to some other places, it’s still chock full of things to do and places to visit. You can start by trying these, which are some of our favorites: Hood Canal - A glacier carved fjord that is perfect for a scenic walk, or collecting clams and oysters. The wineries and tasting rooms are top notch, and you’ll also be able to stop for some breathtaking photo opportunities along the way. Olympic Peninsula Waterfall Trail - You’ll want to go chasing waterfalls when you see the twenty-fix waterfalls that are available to explore! Some are accessible by boat only, while others can be approached by vehicle, horseback, or on foot. You can find the ones that are just right for you at http://OlympicPeninsulaWaterfallTrail.com.
Olympic National Forest - Olympic National Park one of the top most visited parks in the United States. It’s over 1000 acres and has a wide variety of hiking trails, spanning over 900 miles. Staircase - Staircase is the perfect place for a high-elevation climb. However, it is currently closed due to some unsafe conditions and will re-open in late Spring of 2018. Interesting Facts
In the center of the peninsula, you’ll find the Olympic mountains, surrounded by lush rainforest. There’s also some pristine coastal property. You won’t find anyplace else that has such a wide variety of different landscapes in such close proximity. You’ll also find a variety of climates, from ocean air and heavy rains on the Western side of the peninsula, to relatively dry land on the Northeast side. The Olympic Peninsula is the only place that has actual rainforest within the United States of America. The climate over all is very mild with temperatures barely reaching over 80 degrees in summertime and relatively tame snowfalls.
Mount Olympus is the tallest point in Olympic National Park and stands at 7,980 feet.
For more information about The Olympic Peninsula, Olympic National Park, the Hood Canal, or any of the sites and sounds of the area, contact us at Robin Hood Resort Villas at any time for more advice on your trip!