US National Parks
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Olympic National Park, Washington

Olympic National Park is pretty remote, way up in the north west corner of the US. It rains, and it rains, and it rains. But it is precisely for that reason that Olympic is certainly a place I shall return to.

The beautiful, barren, windy pacific coast is a dream for photographers, if you can brace yourself against the wind. On the one day I was there I had to have someone hold me in place whilst I took those two lower pictures!

But Olympic National Park itself! Magnificent. Like few other places on earth. Eerie, spooky, overgrown, wet, very wet, it is fabulous.

Olympic State Park and the Pacific Coast should be compulsory for all serious outdoor photographers. But be prepared for a long stay. The weather in late September when we were there was wild. Unfortunately we only could spare a couple of days and we never got the clear breaks that I would have liked to get some spectacular shots that are just waiting.

The drive from Forks into the official park is quite long, so if you are after early morning views you will need to be up early. The drive is not particularly spectacular and we were a little bit disappointed with the views from the top, at least partly because of the weather which was neither clear, nor dramatic.

We could see across the Straits into Canada, which was nice, but for me, the best part of this park is at the relatively lower levels where the forest is at its thickest and greenest.

Olympic State Park is a must visit place, if you can.

 

olympic national park washington
moss on trees washington
olympic tree fungus
washington state park olympic trees
olympic national park washington
olypic washington pictures
All images Copyright Avery Little