Taholah

Understand

The Olympic Peninsula is centered around the Olympic Mountains and the Olympic National Park. To the east it is bordered by the Hood Canal which is one of the largest fiords in the United States. To the north it is separated from Canada by the Strait of Juan de Fuca and to the west it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. From Mount Olympus, the highest peak in the Olympic Mountain range, ridges and valleys radiate like spokes on a wheel. A jumble of rugged glacier-capped peaks are decorated with meadows and lakes and scattered subalpine forests, which give way to steep forested slopes ending in broad, U-shaped valleys. The western valleys facing the open Pacific receive up to 15 ft (4.6 m) of rain per year, forming lush temperate rain forests. Along the Pacific Coast are a series of rocky headlands, beaches, tidepools nurturing a living rainbow of colors and textures, off shore sea stacks topped by nesting seabirds and wind-sheared trees-all are a remnant of a wilder America. The highlights of this geography and biodiversity are protected within Olympic National Park.

History The human history of the peninsula extends over 13,000 years, to the earliest evidence of Paleolithic hunters. Settlements developed from 1,000 to 3,000 years ago can be tied to the peoples that still inhabit the region today. European explorers first sailed the coast in the late 1700s, and western settlers began to appear soon after. Extractive industry, particularly the harvesting of timber, took hold by the late 19th century. Logging is still an integral part of the regional economy, but there was a growing realization that the nation's forests and game habitats were becoming sparse, and the Olympic Peninsula became an early focus of the conservation movement. The first parcel to eventually become national park was protected in 1897.

Climate The Olympic Peninsula has a moderate marine climate with pleasant summers and mild, wet winters. The Olympic Mountains, part of North America's we

Getting there

By car From Interstate 5 (I-5) and Puget Sound:

Westbound , north of Centralia from Exit #88 US-101 in Olympia at Exit #104. The same highway from Exit 104 of I-5 continues west as State Route (SR) 8, towards Aberdeen, from the junction where US-101 goes northwards towards Shelton. SR-16 through Tacoma at Exit #133. Hwy 16 goes across the Narrows Bridge up to Bremerton where it merges into Hwy 3. ($6 toll to cross the Narrows Bridge from Gig Harbor to Tacoma. No toll going the other way.) In Mountlake Terrace (follow signs to 'Edmonds Ferry') at Exit #177 (going north) or #178 (going south) on SR-104 SR-20 in Burlington at Exit #230. Follow Hwy 20 through Anacortes, Deception Pass and down through Whidbey Island to the Coupeville Ferry Terminal

By ferry From Vancouver Island, British Columbia:

Black Ball Ferry Line is a passenger and vehicle ferry running between Port Angeles and Victoria, British Columbia across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Crossing time is 90 minutes. Service runs all year except for an annual refit for one week in winter time. In the winter, this ferry runs 2 sailings a day and in the summer up to 4 sailings per day each way are scheduled. From Kitsap Peninsula and Puget Sound:

Washington State Ferries. The nearest ferry terminals to the Olympic Peninsula are: Port Townsend from Coupeville on Whidbey Island. Bremerton (WA-Hwy 304/Hwy 3) and Bainbridge Island (WA-Hwy 305/Hwy 3) from downtown Seattle Kingston from Edmonds (WA-Hwy 104/Hwy 3). Follow WA-Hwy 104 from the ferry terminal up towards the Hood Canal Bridge via Port Gamble. From there continue towards US Hwy 101.

By plane The William R Fairchild International Airport (CLM IATA) in Port Angeles serves as a major airport for charter and general aviation flights. The following are the nearest airports for commercial flights where most travelers would rent a car and drive to or travel by shuttle to reach the Olympic Peninsula (see "By bus" in below):

Seattle-Tacoma Internationa

Getting around

By car If flying to the region, it is recommended that you rent a roomy, good quality vehicle upon arriving in Seattle. Driving around the peninsula is very enjoyable but can involve long distances. US Highway 101 is the primary highway around the peninsula. From Olympia (Exit #103 from I-5), it goes west then north along Hood Canal to Shelton and Hoodsport. It turns west through Sequim and Port Angeles. It turns southwards towards Forks and along the coast to Aberdeen. State Route 8 shortcuts US-101 from Olympia to Aberdeen. From Olympia, continue west along US-101, but do not take the turn off towards Shelton. WA-8 continues west along the Chehalis River. At Aberdeen, it again intersects US-101 at S 'H' Street & W Wishkah Rd west of downtown. Turn left at 'H' and over the bridge to go south on US-101 or follow Wishkah Rd to S Alder to go US-101 North. US Highway 12 continues westward from I-5 at Exit #88, which is a shortcut towards Grays Harbor if coming from Centralia or anywhere south along I-5. The highway intersects WA-8 at Elma. & State Route 3/104 turn-off 3mi south of Discovery Bay (WA Hwy 20 turn-off towards Port Townsend) along Hwy 101 connects to the Kitsap Peninsula via floating Hood Canal Bridge. There are no roads through the Olympic Mountains. Going to opposite corners of the peninsula requires driving around US-101.

By bus There are four counties in the Olympic Peninsula, each of which operates its own transit network within its county lines. Some buses run to adjacent counties, some only run to the county line, where a connecting bus will wait. (The buses are usually timed for one to arrive several minutes before the next one leaves.) The county lines predate detailed surveying of the region, leading to some baffling boundaries; for example, there is no road connection to the west and east halves of Jefferson County. The rural routes run infrequently, so plan accordingly. They are not fastest way to get around but are the cheapest for

Do

The Olympic Peninsula is an outdoorsy place that offers a wide variety of places to experience nature.

On the water Beachcombing is hugely popular along the Pacific Coast. Due to the vast expanses of undeveloped coastline, it is easy to find your own isolated patch to explore. Be aware that sea shells and driftwood are considered part of the natural environment and should not be removed. Be gentle with sea creatures and keep a wide distance away from nesting birds, seals and other shore animals and always put back anything removed from the shoreline. Sea kayaking is a sport developed in the Pacific Northwest and the area offers hundreds of miles of convoluted shoreline to explore. Scuba diving the cold waters of Pacific Northwest takes a bit more gear and training than warm water locations, but the rewards are incredible. The area contains some of the best diving in the world and many dive sites are completely covered with colorful sea creatures that defy description. Whale watchin