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Olympic National Park

NATURE AND WILDLIFE
Olympic National Park and its surroundings are home to a wide variety of wildlife. Just offshore, whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, and sea otters feed in the Pacific Ocean. Invertebrates of countless shapes, sizes, colors and textures inhabit the tide pools. On land, some species, like raccoons, beaver and mink, live mostly in the lowlands. But others, like deer, elk, cougars and bears, range from valleys to mountain meadows. Olympic National Park waters are home to some of the healthiest runs of Pacific salmon outside of Alaska. Over 300 species of birds live in the area at least part of the year, from tiny penguin-like rhinoceros auklets offshore to golden eagles soaring over the peaks.

PARK HISTORY
From the hunter whose spear point was left embedded in a mastodon 12,000 years ago near present-day Sequim, to the weaver whose basket was left 3,000 years ago near Obstruction Point, and from the the homesteaders of the late 1800s to the Olympic National Park boosters of the early and mid-1900s, people have used, enjoyed and affected the Olympic Peninsula. Eight tribes have traditional associations to lands now in Olympic National Park: Hoh, Jamestown S'Klallam, Elwha Klallam, Makah, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Quileute, Quinault, and Skokomish. Despite the changes wrought upon them, area tribes are working to sustain their long traditions. The Makah have revived the custom of whaling, a tradition that dates back thousands of years according to archeological evidence. Coastal tribes near Olympic National Park continue their performance of a First Salmon ceremony to honor and give thanks to salmon returning from the sea. They are passing on the teachings of their elders to preserve language and traditional arts, like basket weaving and carving.

LODGING OPPORTUNITIES (Lodging Within Olympic National Park)

The Log Cabin Resort
This hotel has a variety of lodging options, along with a camping area for RVs and tents. A dining room, soda fountain, boat rentals, a grocery and gift shop and is located on the north shore of Lake Crescent, about 20 miles west of Port Angeles.

Lake Crescent Lodge
On Lake Crescent's south shore, about 25 miles west of Port Angeles is Lake Crescent Lodge. The lodge has cabins, motel rooms and rooms in the historic lodge building, along with a dining room, lounge and coffee bar, gift shop and boat rentals.

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